Net-kook institutionalized

In 2002, I blogged about my pal Quinn, who was being stalked by a notorious net-kook named Ian Gomeche, who called her at all hours to scream random abuse at her, etc. Gomeche -- who has a history of calling his victims' employers and using vicious lies to endanger their jobs -- pounded me with thousands of bogus legal threats and random vitriol for weeks after the post went up.

Now Gomeche has reportedly been institutionalized, after years of behavior like this. The coalition of his former victims at GomecheWatch point out that the key advantage of this is that there once Gomeche is released, there will be a basis for having the local law take fresh complaints seriously and respond to them with authority.

Over the last few days, under Section of the Mental Health Act, he was moved from prison to the Cornhill Psychiatric Hospital in Aberdeen with a preliminary diagnosis of "psychosis", and there are reports that further tests now appear to diagnose bi-polar affective disorder with possible mild schizophrenia. This suggests that the cases may not now go ahead, and that in fact Section and treatment under the Mental Health Act will be the preferred resolution at this time.

While this does unfortunately mean that there may be no final legal closure for those who have suffered Ian Gomeche's criminal victimisation and harrassment over many years, it does ensure that he will remain isolated and unable to harrass while he undergoes treatment, something we must accept as a valid alternative. Additionally, it has been explicitly confirmed by the investigating officers that should he be released in the future and re-offend, IMMEDIATE action WILL be taken to bring him into custody without delay on first report received by the local police. This does guarantee some confidence at last among those who have suffered that we can finally go about our lawful business without having to fear his unrestricted reappearance in future.

Link (via Plastic Bag)

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