hi ya linnea,
Unfortunatly I was also once stalked and also dealt pretty closely with another friend's aunt getting stalked and assulted by her ex-husband.
Just a few notes of advice(I just had a quick review of the thread, so sorry if I repeat anything anyone else recommended):
- Have someone be a check-in buddy until the fucker is locked away or gone away: make it someone who lives as close to you as possible so you can get to them even if your phone line is cut. Give this person a copy of your work schedule, and also check in with them on a daily basis. Exchange keys with your buddy so that you have an additional safe place to go, and so they can check in on you even if you can't answer the phone. If you're going to do anything/ go anywhere that's slightly out of the norm for you, let them know when you're leaving and when to expect your return. Unless totally nessisary, don't be alone. If possible get a cell phone, if not, always know where the nearest phone is.
- Make sure everyone you work with, your friends, your family etc. knows what this guys name is, that he is a potentially dangerous stalker, and that they are not to share and info with him about you. This might sound basic, but the guy who was stalking me showed up at my work when I wasn't there, and since the employee who was there didn't know the situation, and she thought he was "cute" she actually revealed two weeks of my schedule to him. People can be easily charmed, especially by someone whose particularly messed up and manipulative. Also, if you talk openly with other people you might find out about things that you may not even know were going on between this guy and other people he's been harrassing.
- If you haven't already taken a women's self defence course, take one. I've used the skills I learnt in self-defence a couple of times, and it's great to just have those reflexes programmed in. Even if you plan on keeping a gun around, it is more likely that you will be attacked when it is not in your hands, so knowing what to do to keep yourself safe and incapacitate your attacker is your best bet. If self-defense classes aren't available in your neck of the woods, remember that for most people if you drive your thumb or fingers into their eyes that their reflex reaction will be to release their hold on you to protect themselves. This should buy you the valuable time you need to get away.
- Get your workplace's policy against harassment in wrighting, share it with any superiors and coworkers who aren't already familiar with it, learn it inside out and keep it on hand, in case an issue arises. Also find out if your employer has any sort of policy for stress leave, and if the situation gets to hairy, take it.
- Follow whatever course you can to apply for a restraining order against the guy. It sounds like you've got a case where you may not be able to act unless his actions against you escalate, so you may be at a point right now where you can't do anything except hope it doesn't get worse, which is an awful spot to be in, but being educated on exactly what you'll need to do when/if it's appropriate to apply for the order can only make things easier should you have to follow that course.
- Always take this seriously. I don't want to go into details about some of the horrible things that went down with one person I know, but all I will tell you is that she allowed her stalker (her ex-husband) to get back in touch with her because he seemed to be better, had supposedly gotten treatment in jail, etc. and now she is no longer with us and her kids have no parents.
Frustrating as it is, the best thing you can do is stick with this, keep a network of good people around you (sounds like your on top of this), and hopefully see this guy either behind bars or driven out of town.
Stay strong sista'