A Canberra doctor has been handed a good behaviour order after admitting to a sustained stalking campaign against a colleague, which included graffitiing abusive messages about her on hospital walls and illegally accessing her private medical records. The victim told the ACT Magistrates Court she felt "invaded" and "violated" by the actions, which destroyed her sense of safety.
Emotional Court Testimony Reveals Extent of Harassment
In a powerful victim impact statement delivered on Wednesday, February 4, the woman described living under a "constant dark cloud" for five years due to James McClymont's behaviour. "You sought to intentionally psychologically harm me and you succeeded," she told the court, addressing her former co-worker directly from the witness stand.
The 31-year-old doctor pleaded guilty to stalking with intent to harass and received a one-year good behaviour order from Magistrate Jane Campbell. The magistrate noted McClymont had destroyed his victim's sense of security and created "an ever-present fear" through his calculated actions.
Systematic Campaign of Intimidation
The stalking behaviour began in 2021 when both doctors worked for Canberra Health Services across multiple territory hospitals. After the victim rejected McClymont's romantic advances and requested they maintain only professional contact, he embarked on a two-year campaign of harassment.
Prosecutor Georgina Meikle detailed how McClymont's conduct ranged from "petulant microaggressions" like slamming doors in the woman's face to more serious violations including accessing her medical records at Calvary Hospital (now North Canberra Hospital) without authorisation.
Graffiti Abuse Across Canberra Locations
In 2023, McClymont escalated his harassment by graffitiing abusive messages about his colleague on Canberra Hospital and surrounding areas. The graffiti included derogatory terms such as "snitch" and "dirty rat" targeting the victim.
Additional graffiti of similar nature was later discovered on a Phillip Oval grandstand, demonstrating the geographical spread of his defamatory campaign. The court heard how these public displays served as persistent reminders of McClymont's power in work environments the victim could not easily escape.
Professional Consequences and Rehabilitation Efforts
McClymont has not worked in the medical industry since November 2022 and has moved away from Canberra following the offending. Defence barrister Keegan Lee argued his client had suffered "extra-curial punishment" through difficulty finding employment, having unsuccessfully applied for 40 medical positions.
The court acknowledged McClymont's engagement with psychological treatment and motivation to address mental health issues relevant to the offending, including significant depressive symptoms and borderline personality traits. Magistrate Campbell accepted the doctor had shown genuine remorse through an apology letter and possessed good rehabilitation prospects.
Regulatory Action and Ongoing Supervision
McClymont was initially suspended by his employer in 2022 and later by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. While his suspension has been lifted, he now practises under strict supervision and mentoring conditions, details of which are publicly available on the medical regulator's website.
The magistrate ordered McClymont to report his conviction and provide the case's agreed facts to the national medical regulator, ensuring ongoing accountability for his professional misconduct.
This disturbing case highlights the serious consequences of workplace harassment within medical settings and the profound impact such behaviour can have on victims' personal and professional lives.
