A STALKER followed his ex-partner to Cornwall even though they had split up 28 YEARS before.

Brian Stewart, 47, had a “brief” relationship with Susan Shaw-Stewart which ended in 1991.

But Stewart didn’t get the message and in 2006 Susan and her husband decided to move to Cornwall in a bid to escape his harassment.

Colchester Magistrates’ Court heard Stewart was subjected to a restraining order.

But between December last year and February, Stewart sent letters to her home, called her landline, left Facebook messages with her children and loitered on her driveway.

In February, the behaviour reached a point where Mrs Shaw-Stewart had to call the police.

Lucy Miller, prosecuting, said: “She was at home and from a window saw someone walk down her driveway towards her car and then out of view.

“She went to another window where she saw Mr Stewart.

“He remained there for two to three minutes using his mobile phone before walking away.

“She found a note on her car windscreen, which said ‘Susan, please call me, Brian.’

“She lives in a secluded area, was very frightened and called the police straight away.”

In a police interview, Stewart told officers he didn’t see his behaviour as harassment, insisting he was desperate to know why she didn’t want to speak to him.

Ms Miller added: “He said: ‘I contact her every five, ten, 15 years. It’s not like I contact her every day.

“‘Every five, ten, 15 years I send a letter - where’s the harassment?’.”

Stewart admitted stalking without fear, alarm or distress at a hearing yesterday.

Representing himself, he said: “I would like to say during the ‘brief’ relationship we were engaged for two years and she didn’t move to Cornwall to get away from me, she’s always wanted to do that.

“Police had said there was no restraining order in place so I contacted her.

“I have been seeking psychological help - I have begged for it - and I am hoping this process would lead to that.”

Magistrates sentenced Stewart, of Schofield Close, Clacton, 16 weeks imprisonment, suspended for 18 months.

He was also slapped with an indefinite restraining order, prohibiting from contacting the family in any way.