Principal so fixated with one of his female teachers he was caught lurking in her backyard

  • Former New Zealand principal David Bargh has been cleared to teach after he was convicted of three charges of loitering outside a colleague's home 
  • Bargh appeared in Whangarei District Court in April 2016 on three charges
  • He pleaded guilty to lurking, loitering or peeping near a dwelling and was ordered to come up for sentence if called on within 12 months 
  • Lawyer said he had depression and untreated obsessive compulsive behaviour
  • Tribunal decision cleared him to teach on condition he inform future employers of his condition, and continue to work on treating it with his doctor

By Ashleigh Davis For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 01:29 EST, 27 January 2017 | Updated: 01:29 EST, 27 January 2017

A former New Zealand school principal who became 'fixated' with a fellow teacher and was convicted of lurking in her backyard three times, has been cleared to teach. 

David Bargh, who was previously principal at Dargaville High School appeared in Whangarei District Court in April 2016 on three charges, reported stuff.co.nz.

He pleaded guilty to three counts of lurking, loitering or peeping near a dwelling and fined $1,000 plus court costs of $130.

A former New Zealand school principal (pictured) who became 'fixated' with a fellow teacher and was convicted of lurking in her backyard three times, has been cleared to teach

David Bargh (pictured), a former principal at Dargaville High School appeared in Whangarei District Court in April 2016 on three charges of loitering, lurking or peeping near a dwelling

Bargh was also ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within 12 months. 

The court heard Bargh was seen at colleague Jessica McPherson's property twice at night, before police arrested him on the third occasion.

Ms McPherson told the court she was felt 'traumatised and violated' as a result of Bargh being on her property.

She said she got to the point where she wished the person lurking outside would break in while she was out, and take whatever it was they wanted. 

The court (pictured) heard Bargh was seen at colleague Jessica McPherson's property twice at night, before police arrested him on the third occasion

Bargh's lawyer Wayne McKean told the court his client suffered from depression and untreated obsessive compulsive behaviour. 

The New Zealand Teachers Disciplinary Tribunal recently cleared Bargh to teach on the condition he advised current or future employers of his condition and its appropriate management.

Bargh's (pictured) lawyer Wayne McKean told the court his client suffered from depression and untreated obsessive compulsive behaviour. The tribunal ruled he could continue to teach if he informed future employers of his condition, and continued to work on it with this doctor

According to the ruling, Bargh's behaviour was 'evidence of a significant deterioration in his mental health, and in particular was a manifestation of his obsessive compulsive disorder, which he managed without significant event for many years'.  

'In short, he became fixated with one of his teachers, and took to spending time on her property.' 

The ruling, which took four months, also stipulated Bargh must continue to work with his GP to address the medical issues that 'gave rise to the events'. 

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