Award-winning hairdresser is accused of ‘four-month harassment campaign’

An award-winning hairdresser has been accused of carrying out a four-month harassment campaign against a rival barbershop opposite her former salon.

Paula Vika, 47, opened her eponymous hair styling business in Norwich in 2007 and was nominated for the Prince’s Trust Young Achiever award, but the salon later shut.

Now, she has pleaded not guilty at court to two charges of harassment against Sangar Saed and Camden Blackett who both work as barbers at Rival Hairstudio.

Vika, of Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, has also denied a separate charge of threatening another hairdresser on February 25 at another business where she later worked.

Norwich Magistrates’ Court heard that the alleged harassment against the two barbers began in November and continued until February 18 against Mr Blackett.

Vika was also accused of carrying on with the harassement of Mr Saed until March 15 despite bail conditions that ordered her not to visit his barbers or contact him.

Katherine Kibyra-Dean, prosecuting, told the court: ‘Since February 27 when she was released on police bail there have been further reports and witness statements supplied by Mr Saed that she has attended the barbershop on numerous occasions in March as well as sending him numerous text messages.’

As for the charge of threats, Vika allegedly started ‘shouting and making comments that made her feel threatened’ and ‘raised her hand towards the victim’.

Vika will stand trial on the two harassment charges on June 14, while a trial over the threats will be heard on June 28 after a judge ruled they should be heard separately.

She was banned in bail conditions from entering the road of Ber Street – where her salon was based, as well as River Hairstudio – or contacting the alleged victims.

Vika is originally from Angola but fled the country’s civil war 23 years ago and moved to Norwich with her six-year-old daughter, reported the Norwich Evening News.