I’ve only spoken to Kate Brennan on the telephone. It’s not surprising; for example, her credit card is under another name and she only uses a mobile phone. She’s also moved numerous times in the past few years. And there’s definitely no photo of her here. Kate Brennan’s not her real name. It’s all for a very good reason. When you’ve been stalked for fifteen years by the same man, you have to take as many precautions as possible.

However, what Kate Brennan wants to do is tell her story. Perhaps it may help other women, she says. “You never hear about the women who can’t afford a bodyguard.”

It all began in 1991 when she met a charming man at a party. He stood out from the others there. He wore a striking blue silk shirt and seemed genuinely interested in her. Their subsequent relationship lasted three years. His behaviour though was far from normal and when she left, his last words to her were "you’ll never forget me" – remarks that she didn’t take seriously at the time but words that were exactly on the button.

In the early days he followed her almost every day. He knew where she’d been, frequented her favourite restaurants, made life unbearable. Then things escalated. He would somehow get into her house and leave tell-tale signs of his having been there; a teaspoon on her bed or a bar of soap on the stairs. However, what made her go to the police was when he moved in opposite her. But this is a man who covers his tracks and despite being brought in for questioning he was not charged. Instead, the police said that if anything happened to Kate, anywhere in the world, he would be the only suspect. It didn’t stop him and fifteen years after their relationship ended, he’s still playing with her mind.

But Kate refuses to crumble. Her book ‘Stalked’ describes her ordeal and her pursuit of a normal life in the face of such terrifying adversity.

This story was featured in "The right to left alone" - The State We're In, 12 December 2009 edition.

Listen to her remarkable story. It’ll make your hair stand on end!