A STALKER whose year-long letter-writing campaign led his victim's employer to review its security procedures has been handed a suspended sentence.

Gareth Robert Sinclair, of Violet Close, Newtown, sent handwritten notes to the hospital where his victim worked, made dozens of posts about her on Facebook, and followed her as she walked her dog in Dolerw Park.

Appearing from custody via video link at Welshpool Magistrates Court, Sinclair, 55, admitted stalking, and a separate charge of harassment after sending abusive voice mails to a former friend. He also admitted possessing amphetamines.

Helen Tench, prosecuting, said the victim of his stalking was a community nurse, who had cared for him eight years earlier and who he had seen walking a dog in Dolerw Park.

Sinclair's handwritten letters began to arrive at the hospital where she worked in August last year, and eight had arrived when a police officer spoke to Sinclair about his behaviour in April.

In May he began posting about her on Facebook, leading the victim's children to urge her to call the police.

In one post he wrote: "Do you really want me to stand outside your house and start singing?"

In total, 93 screenshots of Sinclair's posts about the victim were found.

When an officer went to his home and requested he stop, Sinclair said he "fancied her, that's all", and was "just trying his luck".

Ms Tench said the victim's colleagues, had begun to become more aware of her whereabouts while she was working and had reviewed security measures at the hospital.

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Welshpool Magistrates' Court

In July, the victim was walking her dog in Dolerw Park when she saw Sinclair walking towards her, shouting her name. Terrified, she felt she had to choose between waiting for her dog to return or leaving the park.

The court heard an impact statement in which the victim said: "His behaviour scares me. I don't feel safe. I genuinely feel sorry for him but fear for my own safety."

Ms Tench said that the harassment charge related to an incident earlier this year in which Sinclair left abusive voice messages over a period of a week to a man who had been his friend for around 15 years, causing his victim to become anxious and change his behaviour.

Defending Sinclair, Paul Inns said the offences were committed "against a background of mental health issues", adding that Sinclair "felt he was being taken advantage of" by the victim of his harassment.

He said the letters to his stalking victim were left at the hospital reception and he ventured no further into the building.

He added that Sinclair and the victim were not friends on Facebook but that, as his profile was public, the messages could be seen.

The amphetamines were for personal use, and Sinclair had been on anti-psychotic medication, he added.

Sinclair has been in custody since July.

For the stalking and harassment offences, Chair of the magistrates bench Stephen Pembroke handed Sinclair two prison sentences, 20 weeks and 16 weeks, to run concurrently, suspended for 18 months.

There was no separate penalty for the drugs possession.

Sinclair will also undergo 30 days of rehabilitation which will cover mental health issues, and he was given two 18-month restraining orders.

He will also pay costs of £370, and a £122 victim surcharge, in addition to compensation of £100 to the victim of his stalking.