Jilted Neil Dawson harassed his ex-girlfriend with visits, letters and phone calls because he could not accept their relationship was over, writes Karen Rosine.

Oxford magistrates heard Dawson, 30, and the 40-year-old woman had an affair but the woman - whose identity the Oxford Mail has agreed to protect - ended the relationship shortly after aborting a baby she believed was Dawson's.

John Small, prosecuting, told the court she never viewed the relationship as anything permanent. But Dawson could not accept she did not want to be with him and: *Banged on her door,

*Shouted through her letterbox,

*Watched her as he hung around outside her house, and

*Sent her letters and items in the post, including anti-abortion literature.

Dawson, of Cardigan Street, Oxford, was conditionally discharged by magistrates in February after admitting going to her address, banging on her door and shouting at her. But his campaign to win her back continued and yesterday he was back in court admitting harassment and breach of the conditional discharge.

He was ordered to carry out 100 hours' community service over 12 months and banned from contacting or molesting the woman for six months. He was also ordered to pay £50 costs. Michael Geeson, defending, said Dawson now accepted the relationship was over. He was going through a "very painful process" as he had become very close to the woman's daughter and losing both of them had proved too much.

Dawson told the Oxford Mail today: "I'm not a stalker or a pervert or anything like that. It was a personal thing between me and the girl. I just wanted to talk to her to try and patch things up."

Story date: Wednesday 12 May

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