A finance industry analyst has been spared jail after admitting she stalked a former friend for almost a year, bombarding her with calls, texts and emails after the friendship abruptly ended. Louise Heseltine, 48, and Sally Bisset had grown close through activities including the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge, but Ms Bisset decided to cut contact once the walk was finished after realising their views and interests did not align. Heseltine, who could not accept the sudden silence, continued pursuing contact and branded her former friend a "mean girl" when her attempts were rebuffed.

Heseltine pleaded guilty to stalking Ms Bisset between July 2024 and May 2025 at Harrogate Magistrates' Court, having sent messages including one stating she would "risk a restraining order to build a bridge", which prosecutors said showed she knew the contact was unwanted. Ms Bisset, a tutor and school governor, told the court she felt "completely disrespected and helpless" and suffered "intense shame" over the police involvement, while Heseltine's solicitor said the pair had been very close, once speaking up to five times a day, and that she had struggled to understand why the friendship ended so suddenly.