Obsessed Dutch woman receives lifetime ban from Devon
A Dutch national has been permanently barred from entering Devon following what a judge described as a "relentless campaign of harassment" against a local family. Nicoline Julius, 54, was sentenced to two years imprisonment at Exeter Crown Court after admitting six breaches of a restraining order.
The court heard how the Teignmouth-based family had initially tried to help Julius with accommodation issues after meeting her during a course in Ireland. However, their kindness was met with an escalating pattern of unwanted attention that developed into what the family described as an unbearable ordeal.
The escalation of harassment
The harassment began soon after their initial meeting, leading to Julius receiving a police caution in 2019 and being ordered to stay away from the family. Despite this official intervention, she repeatedly ignored court orders and continued her campaign of contact.
In 2022, Julius escalated her behaviour by leaving an envelope containing what she claimed was "gold" worth approximately £1,800 at the family's property. She continued bombarding them with text messages and emails, even as a court case loomed over her actions.
Disturbingly, Julius threatened to "play Gandhi" by parking outside their home until they spoke with her. She accused the family of lying to authorities and manipulating the situation against her, demonstrating what the judge would later call an "irrational obsession."
Courtroom drama and final sentencing
September 2025 marked Julius's final arrest, leading to the recent court proceedings where her behaviour took a dramatic turn. When Judge Stephen Climie delivered his verdict, Julius threw herself to the ground and began sobbing uncontrollably.
In mitigation, defence lawyer Kathleen Purshouse explained that Julius, originally from Zutphen in the Netherlands, has autism which can cause her to focus obsessively on particular details. She argued that Julius wasn't motivated by an intention to cause serious harm and noted she now lives on a plot of land with her children in Ireland.
However, Judge Climie remained firm, stating: "Those who are made subject to court orders – if they choose to breach them – they must be sent to prison. Otherwise, those orders have little if any real effect or impact."
Family's relief and lifetime protection
The judge imposed a further restraining order that will last for the remainder of Julius's life, prohibiting any contact with the family in "any way, shape or form." Additionally, he banned her from entering Devon once she's released from custody.
In a victim impact statement, the family's father expressed their profound relief, saying: "We were worried we would never get her off our backs or be rid of her. We offered her help once and have regretted it ever since. The harassment has been relentless."
He described how Julius's visits to their home were "very unnerving and worrying," adding that she had wasted police time, court resources and caused significant family stress. The family had tried ignoring her communications, but found that "it just does not work" with someone who has "no boundaries."
Judge Climie concluded that Julius was "an intelligent woman who knew full well what the terms of the order were but had developed an irrational obsession with them, which created enormous anxiety and stress" for the innocent family who had initially tried to help her.
