How a loving suburban wife and doting mother-of-two Kobi Jane Langshaw became ‘Australia’s Baby Reindeer’ – as a magistrate reveals the crazed stalker’s chilling courtroom act

A legal clerk’s chilling transformation from happy-go-lucky suburban mum to a crazed stalker dubbed ‘Australia’s Baby Reindeer’ has been revealed after she was sent to prison.

Kobi Jane Langshaw, 38, ruthlessly pursued two male lawyers in a “deliberate, ruthless and carefully calculated” eight-year campaign, a Perth court heard.

Her obsession with Patrick Gardner, whom she had a crush on, and his best friend Aaron Herbert, whom she hated, led to comparisons to the Netflix hit show Baby Reindeer in which a woman stalks a bartender who showed her some kindness.

The mother-of-two was sentenced last week to five years in prison on three charges of stalking and 21 charges of breaching a restraining order for crimes committed in 2020.

But prior to her reign of terror, Langshaw lived a seemingly idyllic suburban lifestyle in Perth with her husband Jamie and their two daughters.

Social media posts show the once happy couple enjoying time with their children, a day out at the Margaret River wineries and a romantic gesture where Langshaw baked her husband Jamie 50 cupcakes for Valentine’s Day.

By all accounts, Jamie Langshaw was deeply in love with his funny and highly educated wife, who was well-connected with a history of work at some of Perth’s most respected law firms.

And his wife relished her role as devoted mother and partner, playing April Fools pranks on her unsuspecting husband and sending him to work in shorts for a year as a prank she arranged with his boss.

However, Magistrate Belinda Coleman painted a very different picture of Langshaw when she sentenced her in court last Thursday.

‘She is a very intelligent woman and she is adept at lying to take advantage of others. It is clear she uses charm to manipulate others for personal gain,” Ms Coleman told the Perth Magistrates Court.

‘She has a sense of superiority and is very stubborn. When challenged, she becomes hostile, but can immediately return to sweetness and modesty.

‘It is clear that she was and still is completely in love with Mr Gardner… when he first gave evidence she stopped taking notes and stared at him the whole time. He tried his best to avoid her unwavering gaze.

‘She even took her hair out of her ponytail and brushed it around her shoulders in an attempt to get his attention – it was very unnerving.’

It’s unclear when Langshaw’s perfect relationship with her husband deteriorated, but by the time Jamie posted their last smiling photo together on Facebook in 2018, she had already begun her campaign of terror.

The lawsuit revealed the extraordinary lengths Langshaw went to in harassing Mr. Gardner and Mr. Herbert.

After meeting Mr. Gardner, a family lawyer, by chance to discuss the breakdown of her marriage, Langshaw immediately fell in love with him.

In 2016, Mr Gardner had taken out a restraining order against Langshaw, but her disturbing behavior continued despite the court order specifically warning her to stay away.

For eight years she carried out her terrifying stalking campaign, renting an apartment near his work and another apartment near his home.

Langshaw walked past his Caversham home every morning and on one occasion she was caught on camera taking her children outside to play with skipping ropes.

The court heard she was also denied entry to the Family Court building in Perth over other alarming outbursts.

Despite the restraining order and continued reports to police, Langshaw’s obsession with Mr Gardner escalated, while his best friend, Mr Herbert, who also worked in the Family Court, was also targeted.

The extent of her crimes led Ms Coleman to conclude that Langshaw was at high risk of reoffending and that she was ‘very dangerous’.

“Having had the opportunity to closely observe you during a 15-day trial and subsequent court appearances … I believe I have gained valuable insight,” the magistrate told Langshaw.

“I think you take the opportunity to explain and apologize for your transgressions and enjoy being the center of attention.”

In their victim impact statements, both Mr Gardner and Mr Herbert said they felt ‘completely helpless’ and were not believed.

They said they felt that police initially did not take their complaints seriously and spent countless hours trying to prove the crimes committed against them.

Langshaw was also convicted in Kalgoorlie of stalking with intent to intimidate over a case involving another man.

That belief related to her communication with a woman, in which she described fantasies about a relationship with the woman and her husband.

The court had previously heard that a prison guard had taken out a restraining order against her while she was serving her sentence.