A MAN is facing prison for stalking a woman by repeatedly driving past her home and sending her unwanted emails.

Richard Alan Hewitson bothered his victim between January and March this year, Teesside Crown Court heard.

The 65-year-old, from Eaglescliffe, near Stockton, will be sentenced at the end of the month after he admitted a charge of stalking involving serious alarm or distress.

Judge Stephen Ashurst gave him bail until his next appearance on August 31, and ordered a pre-sentence report from the Probation Service.

The judge told Hewitson, who is known as Alan: “The fact you have pleaded guilty is something that will count in your favour when you are sentenced.

“You are a man of 65, of previous good character, therefore, the court will look carefully at what is said by the Probation Service before deciding what the appropriate sentence will be.

“The fact I am asking for a report and giving you bail is not to be taken by you as any promise or indication what any sentence will be.”

The court heard that Hewitson also sent flowers to the woman, drove past her home 19 times in just one day, and on one occasion quizzed a taxi driver outside her house about where she was.

His bail conditions include not contacting the woman and staying away from certain parts of Stockton.