Bluebirds of happiness sang of evil and malice

A woman who missed out on acquiring her dream home in San Diego, California, has been convicted of stalking the young family who outbid her.

Kathy Rowe waged an intensifying campaign of abuse, signing the successful buyers up to magazine subscriptions and sending them $1000 (about R11660) of adult nappies, and posting advertisements for fake parties at their home and leaving their photographs on sex websites.

Rowe, 53, viewed 100 homes before setting her heart on a Spanish-style bungalow at the end of a cul-de-sac in San Diego's Carmel Valley.

A few years earlier she had been named one of "San Diego's best 50 mothers" in a competition, an award for the way she cared for her severely disabled daughter.

She was described by her lawyer as an "outstanding mother, wife and community member."

But when she lost out on the house Rowe snapped. There had been seven bidders and it went for $779000 to Jerry Rice, a special education teacher, and his wife Janice Ruhter, a microbiologist at a children's hospital.

Soon after they moved in with their two young children, Rowe used a false name to re-list the house for sale on the internet and would-be buyers began turning up at the door.

Leaflets went around neighbouring houses warning that a sex offender had moved into their street.

On StValentine's Day, wives in the neighbourhood received romantic cards falsely purporting to have been signed by Jerry Rice.

Then someone put an advertisement online inviting high school teenagers to a New Year's Eve party at the Rices' place. On July 4 their address was advertised as a source of free fireworks. Religious organisations were invited to come around.

Rice found posts on the internet advertising sex with his wife.

Her picture was posted under the heading "Carmel Valley Freak Show. Come see me during the day while my husband is at work."

Rowe posed online as Ruhter and sent her address to one man instructing: "I like to be surprised and have a man just show up at the door and force his way in."

Another invitation said: "Will make it extra wild and worth your time."

Two men did indeed show up. On one occasion the house was locked. The other man was confronted by Jerry Rice.

Becoming increasingly scared the couple took self-defence classes and installed extra security.

Rowe was caught when the police traced the advertisements placed on sex websites to her computer.

She was initially charged with solicitation to rape, and identity theft.

She pleaded guilty to stalking and was sentenced last month to one year of home electronic surveillance and five years probation.

A judge ordered her to stay away from the couple for 10 years.

Her lawyer said Rowe's behaviour had been affected by sleep deprivation incurred in caring for her daughter, and the stress of her husband being diagnosed with stage four cancer.

Rowe told ABC television that she was sorry.

"I had put so much hope into this house. It's almost like, you know, you hear bluebirds sing and music play. I walked in, it was my house. And, when I found out we didn't get it, it was devastating. It was heartbreaking.

"I may be the least-liked person in San Diego County - a horrible, evil person who wanted to harm this nice couple. I did not intend to harm them."

Rowe has since bought a house only a mile away from the couple she stalked.

Rice and Ruhter told People magazine that they were on medication and undergoing counseling due to the stress.

Rice said: "I think she has more of a reason now to attack us so obviously we're concerned for the family."