A paralegal’s chilling transformation from happy suburban mum to crazed stalker nicknamed ‘Australia’s baby reindeer’ has been revealed after she was sent to prison.
Kobi Jane Langshaw, 38, relentlessly pursued two male lawyers in a “deliberate, relentless and carefully calculated” eight-year campaign, a Perth court heard.
Her obsession with Patrick Gardner, with whom she was in love, and his best friend Aaron Herbert, whom she loathed, led to comparisons to the hit Netflix show Baby Reindeer, in which a woman stalks a bartender who shows her some kindness.
The mother of two was sentenced last week to five years in prison for three counts of harassment and 21 counts of breaching a violence restraining order for crimes committed in 2020.
But before her reign of terror, Langshaw lived a seemingly idyllic suburban lifestyle in Perth with her husband Jamie and their two daughters.
Social media posts show the once-happy couple enjoying time with their children, days at Margaret River wineries and a romantic gesture in which Langshaw baked her husband Jamie 50 cupcakes for Valentine’s Day .
By all indications, Jamie Langshaw was deeply in love with his fun-loving and highly educated wife, who was well connected with a work history at some of Perth’s most respected law firms.
And his wife relished her role as devoted mother and companion, playing April Fools’ Day pranks on her unsuspecting husband, sending him to work one year wearing shorts as a prank she had arranged with her boss.
The chilling transformation of Kobi Jane Langshaw, 38, from a happy suburban mum to a crazed stalker nicknamed ‘Australia’s Baby Reindeer’ has been revealed. She appears in the photo with her husband Jamie and one of their two daughters.
Before her reign of terror, Langshaw lived a seemingly idyllic suburban lifestyle in Perth with her husband Jamie and their two daughters (all in a Santa Claus Christmas photo).
However, Magistrate Belinda Coleman painted a completely different picture of Langshaw when she sentenced her in court last Thursday.
‘She is a very intelligent woman and has the ability to lie to take advantage of others. “It is clear he uses his charm to manipulate others for personal gain,” Ms Coleman told Perth Magistrates Court.
‘She has a sense of superiority and is very stubborn. When challenged, she becomes hostile, but can instantly become sweet and simple again.
“It is clear that she was and remains completely in love with Mr. Gardner… on the first occasion he gave evidence, she stopped taking notes and stared at him the entire time. She did everything she could to avoid his relentless gaze.
“She even took her hair out of her ponytail and threw it over her shoulders in an attempt to get his attention – it was very disconcerting.”
It’s unclear when Langshaw’s perfect relationship with her husband soured, however, when Jamie posted their last smiling photo together on Facebook in 2018, she had already launched her campaign of terror.
Social media posts show the once-happy couple enjoying time with their children, days at Margaret River wineries and a romantic gesture in which Langshaw baked her husband Jamie 50 cupcakes for Valentine’s Day .
Langshaw’s crimes led to comparisons with the hit Netflix show Baby Reindeer (pictured) in which a woman stalks a bartender who showed her some kindness.
The court case revealed the extraordinary lengths to which Langshaw went in his harassment of Mr Gardner and Mr Herbert.
Having chanced to meet Mr. Gardner, a family lawyer, to discuss the breakup of her marriage, Langshaw immediately fell in love with him.
In 2016, Gardner had issued a violence restraining order against Langshaw, but her disruptive behavior continued despite the court order specifically warning her to stay away.
For eight years he carried out his terrifying campaign of harassment, in which he rented an apartment near his work and another near his home.
Langshaw walked past her home in Caversham every morning and on one occasion was caught on camera taking her children to play outside the house jumping ropes.
The court heard he was also banned from attending the Family Court building in Perth due to other alarming outbursts.
Despite the restraining order and constant reports to the police, Langshaw’s obsession with Gardner increased while his best friend Mr Herbert, who also worked in the Family Court, was also attacked.
In 2016, Perth family lawyer Peter Gardner (pictured) had obtained a violence restraining order against Langshaw, but his disruptive behavior continued.
The last photo Jamie Langshaw posted with his wife was two years after the harassment began.
The magnitude of her crimes led Ms Coleman to conclude that Langshaw was at high risk of reoffending and was “very dangerous”.
“Having had the opportunity to observe him closely during a 15-day trial and subsequent court appearances… I believe I have gained valuable information,” the magistrate told Langshaw.
“In my opinion, you take the opportunity to give explanations and excuses for your offense and enjoy being the center of attention.”
In their victim impact statements, both Mr Gardner and Mr Herbert said they felt “completely helpless” and had not been believed.
They said they initially felt the police did not take their complaints seriously and spent countless hours trying to prove crimes committed against them.
Langshaw was also convicted in Kalgoorlie of one count of harassment with intent to intimidate over a matter involving a different man.
That conviction related to his communications with a woman, in which he described fantasies of a relationship with the woman and her husband.
The court had previously heard that a prison guard had issued a restraining order against her while she was serving her sentence.
