A PENSIONER has appeared in court after admitting his actions amounted to the harassment of a woman.

Allan Austin visited locations which he believed the victim to be over a period of just over a month.

The 70-year-old also tried to contact the woman through electronic and physical means.

But he has now been sentenced after pleading guilty to a charge of harassment when he appeared before Warrington Magistrates’ Court on Monday, January 16.

Prosecutor Michael O'Kane informed the court how the offence spanned more than a month between July 30 and September 5 last year.

The court was told that his actions did not include any elements of violence, as can sometimes be seen in other harassment cases.

Austin admitted that he pursued a course of conduct which amounted to the harassment of the female victim.

By his own admission of the charge, he was convicted on the basis that he knew or ought to have known that what he was doing amounted to the harassment of her.

The defendant sent the woman text messages, e-mails and letters during the period in question.

In addition to this, he also made phone calls in a bid to contact her, as well as attending her home address and her church.

Having taken everything into account, district judge Clarke sentenced Austin, of Freckleton Close in Great Sankey, to a 12-month community order including 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

The court also approved a restraining order prohibiting the defendant from contacting three named woman and entering two named Warrington locations for three years.

In addition, Austin was ordered to pay a fine of £300, costs to the Crown Prosecution Service of £120 and a surcharge to fund victim services of £114.