A dental nurse has been sentenced after launching a disturbing stalking campaign against a widowed dentist with whom she had previously been involved.
Sophie Colwill, 30, fitted a tracking device to Dr. David Pagliero’s car, inundated him with phone calls, and even broke into his home to wait for him in his bedroom.
The court heard that Colwill and Dr. Pagliero, 54, began their relationship while working together at the Smile Dental Centre in Exeter, Devon.
Dr. Pagliero, who had sought companionship after the death of his wife, Sharon, in 2021, described Colwill as a positive presence initially. However, after their separation in May, Colwill’s behaviour became increasingly erratic.
Dr. Pagliero reported that Colwill would appear at various locations he visited, such as a service station where he was buying petrol. In one instance, Colwill handed him a tracking device she had attached to his car, and when he confronted her, she had a meltdown.
The situation escalated when, one night at 2 a.m., Colwill entered Dr. Pagliero’s home without permission and was found in his bedroom. An audio recording from the incident captured Dr. Pagliero shouting for help as a struggle over his mobile phone ensued. Colwill eventually fled through a window of his £1.35 million property.
Colwill’s harassment continued with an overwhelming number of phone calls—965 on one day and over 1,000 the following day. Dr. Pagliero reported feeling constantly on edge, fearing that Colwill was following him and hiding near his home.
Despite the distress caused, Dr. Pagliero requested leniency for Colwill, stating he did not seek vengeance but was deeply affected by her actions. He explained that he had tried to help her but realized that was no longer possible.
Colwill pleaded guilty to stalking involving serious alarm or distress and was sentenced to 20 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months. She was also issued a five-year restraining order, prohibiting her from contacting Dr. Pagliero or visiting his home and dental practice.
Defense lawyer Peter Seigne described Colwill as “fragile” and “incredibly distressed” by the experience, noting that the conviction could impact her career due to potential disciplinary action from the General Dental Council. Colwill wept in court as Seigne explained her struggle to cope with the end of the relationship.
This case highlights the severe impact of stalking on victims and the legal consequences for perpetrators.
