A MAN stalked a teenage girl for more than two months and made threats towards her and her family, a court was told.

Andrew Denny followed the 14-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, when she was out shopping in Ripon.

Prosecutor Mark Haigh said Denny, 35, also verbally abused the girl when she passed his home with her younger brother.

And on one occasion he turned up at her home and shouted threats through the letterbox.

Mr Haigh said the girl was ''in substantial fear'' and told police.

Denny, of Aismunderby Road, Ripon, admitted harassment at Harrogate Magistrates' Court.

Richard Buchanan, mitigating, said Denny had a 17-year history of mental and physical health problems, compounded in the last two years by depression.

He said he was an alcoholic who was seeking help with his addiction.

Denny was given a conditional discharge for a year with £50 costs and magistrates also imposed a two-year restraining order banning all contact with the 14-year-old.

Court chairman Charles Bailey told him: ''We have sympathy with your problems and admire you for trying to get to grips with your alcoholism.''