Bride Anne Henry told yesterday of her stalking hell at the hands of the husband she jilted on their wedding day.

It took just six hours for her to realise she had made a mistake when Derek Tate became drunk and abusive in front of their guests.

Mrs Henry, 56, marched out and started divorce proceedings against him the next day.

She claimed her decisive action began months of misery as the 54-year-old former pub landlord began plaguing her.

Mrs Henry said she was about to move home for the eighth time since her wedding at Newcastle Civic Centre in 1996 in an attempt to escape Tate, who is on bail after admitting a charge of harassment at Newcastle Magistrates Court.

Mrs Henry said yesterday: "I was a free spirit but he's destroyed me physically, mentally and spiritually.

"He's like a cat playing with a mouse. I don't know why he keeps haunting me like this."

In court, prosecutor Bridie Smurthwaite said Tate had a "substantial number of convictions" in relation to his ex wife.

Mrs Henry told yesterday how she walked out on him at their reception in Newcastle's Chieftain pub.

She said: "He must have had about five pints in one hour and he began saying wicked and nasty things to me.

"He showed his true colours and what he really felt about me. I don't know why that man married me."

Since then, she said Tate had refused to stop calling her despite court orders banning him from approaching her.

She said: "He will not leave me alone, I cannot get on with my life and he has warned me against seeing anyone else."

But Tate, of Scotswood, Newcastle, defended himself yesterday.

He said: "Anne is my life and soul, I still love her despite everything. We have always had a very volatile relationship. This whole business has got me down."