A persistent stalker who climbed onto a woman's balcony, banged on her door and left unwanted gifts and notes has narrowly escaped going to prison.

Joshua George Felton, 30, of Treliever Farm, Carnon Valley, Carnon Downs, appeared at Truro Magistrates' Court this week for sentencing after pleading guilty to stalking a woman in Newquay causing her serious alarm and distress.

The court heard that the offences took place between July 10, 2022 and August 24, 2022 and had had a substantial adverse effect on the woman's usual day-to-day activities.

He sent her repeated and unwanted communications, made frequent unannounced and uninvited visits to her home, including climbing her balcony, and repeatedly knocked at her door, wrote notes on her window and left unwanted gifts after being told to stay away.

Felton had previously pleaded not guilty to the offence but then changed his plea to guilty when he appeared in court on October 18.

On Monday (November 21) he was sentenced to 15 weeks in prison suspended for 24 months. He was also made the subject of a two year restraining order not to contact the woman directly or indirectly or get anyone else to do so and not to enter Newquay.

Magistrates said custody was the only option as the offence so serious due to the persisted, unwanted communications and behaviours which had a substantial adverse effect on the victim, causing her alarm and distress.

However they had decided to suspend the sentence because there was a strong chance of rehabilitation within the community and a restraining order put in force to protect the woman.

He was also made the subject of 24 month supervision order with a mental health treatment requirement under the direction of We Are With You for 12 sessions with a "building better relationships" rehabilitation activity requirement.

He was also ordered to pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £154 and Crown Prosecution Service costs of £135.

Felton's guilty plea was taken into account when imposing sentence.