A FATHER feared for his daughter’s safety after she was bombarded with 1,000 unwanted texts from an obsessed student a court heard yesterday.

Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court heard Christopher Deacon, 21, sent messages to the 17- year-old girl for four months claiming they were in a relationship and begging her to speak to him.

Deacon, who previously admitted harassing the teenager after seeing her at Bishop Auckland College, also sent texts to the girl’s father, the court heard.

Blair Martin, prosecuting, said the girl was first made aware of Deacon, of Foxcovert Grove, Howden-le-Wear, by a friend who said he was interested in meeting her. The victim rejected him, but on Christmas Day last year received a text from Deacon, Mr Martin said.

Prosecutors said Deacon plagued the girl with 16,000 texts and phone calls until December although the defence team said victim interviews showed the number to be about 1,000.

Mr Martin said some of the texts were threatening but most were pleading with his victim to talk to him and proclaiming his love for her.

The victim’s father was also contacted by Deacon and Mr Martin said he had suffered health problems as a result.

The father said he was “panicked and terrified” about what Deacon might do to his daughter.

He said he suffered sleepless nights, was on anti-depressants and still panicked when the phone rang fearing it would be Deacon.

Magistrates gave Deacon an 18-month community order with 100 hours’ unpaid work.

He was also ordered to pay £200 compensation to the girl, £85 costs and made subject of an indefinite restraining order banning him from contacting the girl or her father or entering their home streets.