A STALKER was told he could be punished in the community despite stalking a woman.

Paul Marrow attended the victim’s home and workplace, as well as leaving her abusive voicemails on her phone.

The 50-year-old was charged with stalking without fear, alarm or distress, and he appeared to be sentenced at Warrington Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, November 1.

However, he was told that a custodial sentence was not appropriate in his case.

Tom Quirk, prosecuting, explained how the period of stalking ran just fewer than two weeks from September 22 to October 5 this year.

During this time, Marrow ‘pursued a course of conduct which amounted to stalking, which he knew or ought to have knew amounted to harassment’, according to the charge.

He repeated contacted the woman by telephone calls, left abusive voicemails for her and sent her numerous unwanted text messages.

In addition, he also attended both her home address and her work address, the court heard.

Chair magistrate Lynn Colter-Howard concluded, taking the defendant’s guilty plea into account, that a custodial sentence was not necessary.

Marrow, of Fox Street in Whitecross, was sentenced to an 18-month community order, including 45 rehabilitation activity requirement days and an electronically monitored curfew for eight weeks.

He must also pay costs to the Crown Prosecution Service of £120 and a surcharge to fund victim services of £114.

In addition, a restraining order was made prohibiting him from contacting or approaching the woman, as well as enter a named Warrington street, for two years.