My stalker left me so scared I didn’t dare close my eyes in the shower: Recruitment consultant tells how lorry driver she helped find a job sent her sexually explicit messages, moved house to be closer to her and even proposed to her at her workplace

A recruitment consultant has told how she was too scared to close her eyes in the shower because of a ‘horrific’ stalking campaign by a truck driver she helped get a job.

Jennifer Pickering, 32, had only met Jan Schlossar once before he started sending her sexually explicit messages, moved to be closer to her and even proposed to her at her workplace.

Schlossar, 42, has now been jailed after he continued to stalk her despite being granted a restraining order.

But Mrs Pickering, from Leicester, said she fears he will ‘never give up’ and continue to harass her.

“I was so scared of him that I couldn’t close my eyes in the shower because I was convinced he would look at me if I opened them,” she said.

Ms Pickering, 32, had met Jan Schlossar only once before he started sending her sexually explicit messages, moved to be closer to her and even proposed to her at her workplace

Schlossar (pictured), 42, is now in jail after he continued to stalk her despite being granted a restraining order

“The fact that it took three lawsuits shows how bad things had to get before anything could be done.

‘I was angry at first, I felt like a sitting duck. I felt so helpless. But now I see that the police were trying to build a bigger case so that he would get a longer sentence.

‘He was ruthless and wouldn’t take no for an answer. He became obsessed and wouldn’t leave me alone. I’m terrified he’ll come after me again.’

She first met Schlossar in March 2022 after he applied for a truck driving job she had advertised in her role at a recruitment agency.

Days later he called to discuss the details, and an hour later he showed up at her office to apply in person. “It felt strange from the moment I met him,” Ms Pickering said. “The way he looked at me and spoke to me seemed strange from the very first meeting.”

While applying for a job, Schlossar took four hours to complete a form that would take 45 minutes. After he finished, Mrs. Pickering suggested Schlossar for the job, which he was subsequently offered.

As part of her role, she was required to contact Schlossar weekly via text message from her work phone. But Schlossar’s responses became increasingly frequent and inappropriate, with him asking Ms Pickering out just a week after he was placed in the job. He then moved to Leicester and came to her office with a ring.

“He said he moved to be closer to me and wanted to marry me,” she said. ‘He stared at me through the window for half an hour before he burst into the office and said he needed to speak to me.’

Ms. Pickering’s colleagues called the police and Schlossar was arrested. But he continued to bombard Ms Pickering with sexually explicit messages and videos of himself pleasuring himself.

He posted videos on Instagram telling Ms Pickering he loved her and begging her to be with him and have his children. Schlossar was given a lifetime restraining order in June 2022 after twice admitting to stalking, but within two hours of his release. He contacted Ms Pickering again in September, leading to his arrest and remand.

Schlossar pleaded guilty to harassment and breaching a restraining order at Leicester Magistrates’ Court in November 2022 and was sentenced to 12 weeks for trespassing and 23 weeks for intimidation, to run concurrently.

She first met Schlossar in March 2022 after he applied for a truck driving job she had advertised in her role at a recruitment agency.

As part of her role, she was required to contact Schlossar weekly via text message from her work phone. But Schlossar’s responses became increasingly frequent and inappropriate, with him asking Ms Pickering out on a date just a week after he was placed in the job.

Schlossar pleaded guilty to harassment and breaching a restraining order at Leicester Magistrates’ Court in November 2022 (pictured) and was sentenced to 12 weeks for trespassing and 23 weeks for intimidation, to run concurrently

But after his release, Schlossar continued to post videos online addressing Ms. Pickering and contacted her via Instagram. He was arrested again in February and sentenced to 30 months for violating the restraining order.

“It’s been tiring, I’m constantly on edge,” Ms Pickering said. ‘I have never experienced anything so terrible. I now realize that my life will never be the same again.’

Detective Constable Josh Evans, of Leicestershire Police, said: ‘Jennifer endured two horrific years of harassment and stalking by Schlossar, which left her feeling extremely anxious at times. Nevertheless, the courage she has shown is incredible and I hope that with the recent prison sentence, Jennifer can start to feel safe again and lead a normal life again.’