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Imperial professor loses job after harassing younger woman he met on Tinder, court told

Rob Krams - Brais G. Rouco
Rob Krams - Brais G. Rouco

A professor at Imperial College lost his job after he harassed a younger woman he met on Tinder, a court heard. 

Rob Krams, 63, was working at the London university as a bio-engineering lecturer when he met Ausra Satiene on the mobile dating app.

They were in a relationship for a year and half enjoying trips across Europe and eating out at expensive restaurants in London, but in January they split up after arguments about money.

Krams, originally from the Netherlands, ignored a police caution by continuing to make contact with his former girlfriend, sending her four letters and phoning her.

The correspondence, according to Ms Satiene, included slurs about her social class which left her "anxious and scared" and struggling to sleep.

Ms Satiene said in a statement: "The harassment has made me feel very uncomfortable and has caused a lot of anxiety especially when the letters were being physically delivered to our door.

"I felt that there was no end to this. I only feel better now that we have moved to a location he has no knowledge off.

"I was worried he would contact my employer and bad mouth me like he had in the letters.

"After a couple of sleepless nights due to anxiety and worry I felt very tired at work and it was effecting my performance."

The court heard Krams had sent letters and phoned his former partner during June and July, but denied posting the letters by hand through her door.

He contacted the police and admitted sending a letter, but carried on after being told to stop.

Ausra Satiene
Ausra Satiene

Ms Satiene had earlier told the court at Krams' trial she felt she had nowhere to go when letters continued to arrive after police intervention, which she claimed "disrespected" her decision to break up with him.

"I did not know what the next step would be," she said. "It made me feel very anxious, uncomfortable and emotional.

"It made me feel terrible. Even after the police got involved the letters were still coming and I did not know what to do.

"Each time I had to open a letter I did not know what to expect. I was very anxious, I was very unhappy and I was very concerned.

"In the letter he mentioned social class and I felt that he was putting me down. I felt scared because I was receiving personal letters after he received a warning and an caution.

"He was still contacting me after we broke up and things were over. He disrespected my decision."

Krams, who is also a doctor at Hammersmith Hospital, complained he was taken advantage of and treated like a "sugar daddy".

In November 2017 Krams took a job at Queen Mary University where he worked as a councillor while still working at the hospital twice a week.

He told the court: "At the beginning I was very much in love with her. What happened in October was aggressive and strong-minded - it was not my style.

"There were two phone calls were she asked for money in December. I was already thinking about her attitude. Then suddenly received phone calls that I should pay her because she is younger."

Ms Satiene also worked at the same hospital and Krams said he wrote to her because he was fearful for his career.

He claimed she was phoning him up to 30 times from withheld numbers after their break-up but not speaking when he picked up the call.

He added: "I sent her flowers. I am from a Dutch culture. I bought my ex-wife in Holland flowers almost every week.

"I was secretly hopeful she would phone and say 'Rob I did not pay you enough attention' but she phoned to ask me for money."

At Krams' sentencing hearing, Georgia Luscombe, defending, said: "He has been punished socially and professionally.

"He received a letter from human resources saying that he is no longer able to continue as professor at Imperial College.

"He does have another professorship but he is unsure of that. His is 63 years old and he has no previous convictions. This offence is wholly out of character.

"Mr Krams deeply regrets his actions. I think talking to probation was sobering for him. He told me he misinterpreted these missed or unknown phone calls.

"I don't think he did appreciate at the time what effect these letters were having but he does now.

"There were no threats in these letters. They were reconciliatory in tone and they were never calculated to cause alarm or distress."

Banning him from contacting Ms Satiene for two years, magistrate Lucinda Lubbock said: "We have taken into account all that has been on your behalf. We are therefore, giving you a 12 month community order and 40 hours unpaid work.

"We are going to impose a restraining order but we will time it to two years rather than indefinite. That is not to contact Ausra Satiene directly or indirectly."

Krams, of North Gate, Prince Albert Road, St John's Wood, northwest London, denied harassment but was found guilty after trial and was sentenced to a 12 month community order with 40 hours unpaid work.

He was told to pay costs of £660 and the victim surcharge of £85. Sitting in the dock he was quiet and hung his head while his counsel described him as "extremely stressed".