A 63 year old stalker has been warned he faces five years behind bars - if he sends his former partner a Christmas card.
Grant Boucher admitted harassment without violence towards Susan Newberry which the prosecution called stalking which happened over 'a significant period of time'.
Prosecutor Sean Tipton said obsessed Boucher went to her home every day, bombarded her with letters and cards and left notes and presents.
Exeter magistrates court was told that he even went to her home 'to watch her while she sleeps'.
Mr Tipton said the case was so serious he wanted a restraining order put in place without any time limit because Boucher would probably breach the strict no contact conditions.
The Crown said a probation report revealed that Boucher, from Hatch Beauchamp near Taunton, Somerset, was 'obsessed with the victim' and showed 'predatory behaviour'.
The report author said he was 'distorted and deluded' and the victim said in a statement that his actions were 'sinister' and she lived in 'fear' and had 'stopped living a normal life'.
James Calderbank, defending, told the court:"He is not going to be sending a Xmas card, it's not on.
"He has been harbouring under illusions that he can maintain a degree of friendship despite the termination of a close relationship for seven years. It is a real struggle for him that it's at an end. He put a lot into it and his letters are a mixed bag.
"He says he misses her every day and would rather be miserable with her than happy with someone else. He says he misses her smile. He has said some unwise things that normally happens to much younger people."
He said Boucher found it hard to accept that taking gifts to her home, visiting without an invitation and leaving flowers, gifts and letters was harassment.
"It is a hard pill to swallow and heard for him to see what he has done wrong," said the defence solicitor.
Mr Tipton said the probation report revealed that Boucher did not see his behaviour as harassment and he said that he 'intends to send her a Xmas card and speak to her if he sees her in public'.
He went on that Boucher sees himself as the victim saying:"It beggars belief but he wants an apology from her."
He added that white haired Boucher, who walks with two sticks, accused the victim of using violence against him when they were together and said the police and Crown Prosecution Service should not have got involved and should have better things to do.
The magistrates imposed a community order with a four month long, 12 hour a day daily curfew from 7pm to 7am with electronic tagging and a restraining order with no time limit banning him from contact with the victim and to stay away from her Devon home.
The JPs warned him that if there was any breach he would end up back in court and could face a maximum five years in jail.
Boucher said he would appeal the case and said:"I have been made a scapegoat. I am not a stalker."
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