A Policeman accused of stalking the mother of his young daughter broke down in tears in court, saying: “My life is in tatters and lies are being told.”

Robert Butterfield, 36, was given a ten-minute break from cross-examining the complainant in order to compose himself after his emotional comments yesterday.

The woman has claimed that Butterfield not only stalked her but also forced her into sex at one point during the period of the charge — July 1 to July 25 2006. Butterfield, of Old Military Road, St. George’s, is not charged with any sex offence, and denies persistently following the woman around. He has elected to conduct his own defence after previously firing two lawyers.

In his cross examination of his accuser at Magistrates’ Court yesterday, Butterfield asked her about her feelings after he allegedly forced himself on her.

“Violated, abused, as usual coming from you,” she replied.

He put it to her that she and a Police officer concocted a story about him forcing sex on her, which she denied.

Butterfield was warned by Magistrate Juan Wolffe that in pursuing this line of questioning, he could open up the possibility of Senior Crown counsel Paula Tyndale putting his own character at issue in the trial.

He indicated that he was aware of this and did not mind. Shortly afterwards, he broke down and was excused for a short break.

When he returned, the woman made an allegation that Butterfield continued to stalk her since last summer, despite an order from the court not to contact her. “It’s an ongoing situation, and that’s why I’m forced to do this because it’s non-stop,” she said to Mr. Wolffe of the court proceedings. “He continues to email me, it’s just repetitive and it’s not stopping and it has to stop. I’m sorry, I have to say that even after the order was given he continued to still call my house and email me even after you had told him not to contact me.”

She went on to allege that Butterfield also continued to follow her around.

The Magistrate said that because this allegation did not pertain to the July 2006 period of the charge, he would attach little weight to it as evidence.

Later in the court proceedings, the woman agreed with Butterfield that she made four statements about him allegedly stalking her between July 22 and 26 last year. She agreed that her statements did not contain exact times and dates, but denied Butterfield’s assertion that they were vague.

Mr. Wolffe has asked this newspaper to exercise discretion in naming the complainant, and an editorial decision has been made not to do so.

Butterfield is currently suspended from the Police service, and the case against him continues.