An ‘obsessed’ patient left her gynaecologist with nightmares after months of stalking – where she lavished him with gifts and love letters.
Lisa Beevers repeatedly hunted down Dr Martin Farrugia at several hospitals and even deceived his secretary into handing over his mobile number, a court heard.
Margate Magistrates Court was told the 59-year-old was Dr Farrugia’s regular patient for nine years before her infatuation took a sinister turn in 2023.
She insisted on seeing him for a routine appointment at Margate’s Spencer Private Hospital in November that year, and returned to the site days later demanding to see him.
Neil Sweeney, prosecuting, said that Beevers then left a card for the doctor after being told he was not there.
‘Thank you so much for your care’, she wrote, signing off with a love heart and the words ‘If you are a free man text me’.
In the coming weeks, Beevers sent a letter to his workplace expressing her love, and warning that she ‘was going to get him,’ Mr Sweeney said.
Sensing trouble, the doctor raised the alarm with colleagues prompting an alert to circulate among hospitals.
Yet days later, Beevers, also known as Easton, delivered an array of gifts to his wing, including £250 and a love letter – then returned to the hospital and phoned to check if he received them.
In January 2024 police spoke with Beevers, of Sholden near Deal, Kent, about her behaviour.
But undeterred, she booked an appointment with Dr Farrugia’s department via her general practitioner, who was unaware of her stalking tendencies.
Beevers turned up at the hospital several more times throughout February, arriving on some occasions with more gifts, Mr Sweeney explained.
Detailing the extent of Beevers’ scheming, the lawyer described how she duped a hospital secretary into handing over Dr Farrugia’s mobile number.
Posing as someone the doctor knew over the phone, she claimed to have dropped her mobile down a toilet, subsequently losing his contact details.
With new-found access to his personal line, Beevers unleashed a barrage of disturbing texts and phone calls, prompting the doctor to fear for his family’s safety.
And when Dr Farrugia switched to working at One Ashford Hospital, Beevers traced him the following June, Mr Sweeney explained.
‘She sent a friend in with a card for him,’ he added.
The court heard Beevers was arrested three days later and, when charged, retorted: ‘I have been a very silly woman’.
In victim impact statements read out in court, Dr Farrugia revealed he was ‘unclear whether her symptoms were just made up’ to target him.
‘It has worried me to the extent I have had nightmares about this,’ the statement noted.
‘At this point, I’m considering changing my working pattern.
‘I’m also worried about the impact this will have on my partner, who is aware of the situation, and my children.’
Beevers’ obsession culminated from years of bi-annual appointments, whereby she found the doctor ‘an impressively professional man,’ her lawyer explained.
Ian Bond, mitigating, told magistrates Beevers was of previous good character, and had been experiencing a rocky divorce before her offending.
Describing how Beevers would speak to Dr Farrugia about her personal life, Mr Bond said: ‘He became a confidante rather than just a professional advisor.
‘She became obsessed by Dr Farrugia and sought him out but she was in a state of mental distress at the time.
‘My client has moved on.’
When magistrates retired to consider sentencing, Beevers could be heard calling to her lawyer: ‘Do I send (Dr Farrugia) a letter of apology or not?’
‘No, definitely not,’ Mr Bond replied.
Due to the seriousness of Beevers’ offending, magistrates sent her case to Canterbury Crown Court, where judges have tougher sentencing powers.
Beevers was granted conditional bail, where she must not contact her victim or attend any location where he is apart from during a legitimate medical appointment.
Appearing in the dock on Thursday wearing a black jacket, Beevers, of The Street, had pleaded guilty to stalking involving serious alarm or distress at the same court last December.