A WOMAN felt a prisoner in her own home after being continually harassed by her former partner, a court heard.

Keith Gorse turned up at the victim's home in the middle of the night and began banging on the door and peering through the window.

The 35-year-old had previously been convicted of attacking the woman - with whom he had previously been with for ten years – and also harassment after visiting her home on 13 successive nights.

His latest offence on October 18 last year meant he had breached a restraining order imposed on him by the courts, a charge he admitted.

The woman, who was said to have suffered significant psychological harm, said she was left feeling like a prisoner in her own home and wished Gorse would leave her alone.

Christine Egerton, mitigating at Teesside Crown Court, said the unemployed defendant had been on remand since his arrest and had served the equivalent of a nine and-a-half month jail sentence.

Judge George Moorhouse gave Gorse, of Colwyn Road, Hartlepool, an 18 month long community order and said he would be supervised by the probation service.

The judge said the restraining order would remain in place until further notice.