A STALKER named a character in a novel he wrote after his victim and repeatedly tried to contact her, leaving her scared that ‘something bad would happen to her’.

Matthew Campbell, of Stafford Drive in Bootle, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Wednesday after pleading guilty to stalking involving serious alarm and distress.

Prosecuting, Simon Christie told the court that the 39-year-old first contacted the victim through a Valentine’s Day card in 2015, but he did not begin messaging her on social media until 2018.

It was heard that the victim was known to Campbell as they worked at the same company in Warrington, but they had not directly crossed paths and the victim had never spoken to hm.

During 2018, Campbell was approached by a manager who was concerned that he was writing the victim’s name down repeatedly on paper and had written a book with a character named after her.

He later tried to contact the victim through Facebook, Instagram and Skype, but was subsequently blocked by her on each platform.

The court heard that in 2022, Campbell continued to attempt to message the victim and tried to tell her about a novel he had written, and he had been asking colleagues about her.

A disciplinary hearing was held in the autumn of 2022, where the then 37-year-old was told to stop contacting her.

Campbell stopped directly contacting her in 2022, the court heard, but did search her name on LinkedIn.

In April of this year Campbell was interviewed by Cheshire Police, where he stated the feelings he had for her.

Mr Christie told the court that Campbell had become ‘overwhelmed with feelings’ for the victim and ‘became obsessive’.

An impact statement was read to the court in which the victim said she now suffers with anxiety.

“I thought something bad would happen to me,” the statement read.

“It has taken over my life. I spent 12 years working on my career, and now I feel like it is over.

“I cannot put into words how much this has impacted my life and how I feel.

“I don’t know him, and I have never spoken to him. This obsession will not stop until something happens to me.”

Defending, Sarah Griffin told the court that Campbell ceased attempting to contact the victim in 2022 and that he has ‘expressed remorse’.

“You pestered, bothered and obsessed about her,” said judge Simon Medland during his sentencing remarks.

“This has had a serious impact on her. It has caused her considerable difficulty and worry and concern.

“You have no right to behave in this way to her or anybody else.”

Campbell, who has no previous convictions, was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment suspended for two years.

He was ordered to complete 30 rehabilitation activity days and abide by an electronically monitored curfew for the next four months.

A restraining order was also ordered for five years.