A POOLE man has appeared in court over a charge of harassing a woman over a 54-day period.

David Ernest Ricketts, aged 36 and of Drake Road, Poole, admitted pursuing a course of conduct which amounted to the harassment of a woman in Weymouth.

Magistrates sitting in Poole on July 30 heard that the defendant had continually sent messages to the woman, followed her and turned up at her home address between May 7 and June 30.

Ricketts was committed to prison for 14 weeks, suspended for two years, issued with a restraining order and told to participate in an accredited programme for 42 days.

He was also ordered to pay £85 costs and £128 surcharge, with a further 12-week suspended prison sentence, to run concurrently, for committing an offence while subject to a community order.