A WOMAN sexually harassed by her neighbour for nine years says the pervert will "not let things rest" after he made a chilling threat on national television.

Mandy Dunford is furious her tormentor Ken Ward was given the chance to speak publicly on Channel 5 documentary Nightmare Neighbours Next Door.

Probation restrictions mean Ward, 67, is not allowed to return to his remote cottage near Chop Gate, Stokesley, North Yorkshire. However, these will be lifted next year when his sentence ends.

At the end of the documentary Ward - who would jump out on Mrs Dunford and perform a sex act in the fields around their homes - said he did not plan to return to the cottage.

However, he suggested that he would keep paying the rent to keep Ms Dunford "wondering if I am going back or not".

"If I am renting it she won't know if I am going back, that's my prerogative," he added.

Mandy Dunford described his comments as "frightening" adding: "It just shows that he's not going to let things rest."

Ms Dunford said she was told by a North Yorkshire police officer that Ward had changed and now just wanted a quiet life tending his flower garden.

"I think the officer needs to get a copy of this programme and see for herself that he hasn't changed and wont change.

"He said he was just performing sex acts in front of me because he wanted me to move away. What kind of a man does this because he doesn't like his neighbour? What wasn't mentioned was that police have statements from other women who he has harassed over the years - he's just a sex offender."

Ms Dunford, 54, said the documentary also failed to mention that she reported Ward for pointing guns at her.

The former Cleveland Police officer said she would never have participated in the programme if she had known Ward was also being interviewed.

North Yorkshire Police say they empathise with Ms Dunford's situation and the fact that she lives in fear of Ward returning to within metres of her home.

The force said they still viewed him as a risk to her.