University of Exeter graduate found guilty of stalking police officer

Apinya Chinglek was said to be ‘infatuated’ with the victim

20 hours ago

A University of Exeter graduate has been found guilty of a stalking police officer.

27-year-old Apinya Chinglek, who worked as a teaching assistant, admitted to stalking the man over an extended period, from August 2019 to November 2024.

They had first met whilst he was working at Disneyland Florida in 2019, but Exeter Magistrates’ Court heard that the officer does not recall meeting the woman in 2019.

However, on Remembrance Day of 2024, Chinglek turned up to a parade in Okehampton, where she handed his mother a letter containing her mobile number.

The court was further told how the special educational needs grad had found his address and his mother’s identity, so that she could approach her at the parade and invite her son to her upcoming graduation ceremony.

Chinglek admitted to stalking her victim, and said she contacted the victim via social media, followed him, loitered in places he’d frequent, took photos of him outside of a police station and on six occasions she went to Okehampton, where she “watched or spied on the complainant”.

In a statement, the police officer said: “I do not know why I am being targeted, I want it to stop. I do not know how long it will continue.”

The prosecution said that while he was initially polite in response to her contact, when she confessed to having feelings for him, he turned her down by saying he was flattered but had a girlfriend, then proceeded to block her.

The court heard that Chinglek was “fixated” with the victim, with the judge stating she was “infatuated” with him.

Chinglek has been served with a Stalking Protection Order. She has also since lost her job as a special educational needs teaching assistant and may be barred by education regulators due to the stalking charge.