A WIDOWER persistently followed and pursued a terrified woman who had helped care for his late wife, a court heard.

David Foote regularly loitered outside Sally Webb's home and place of work and trailed her to shops in Southampton.

And when police raided his home they made the sinister discovery of a blow-up doll with a photograph of her image crudely attached to its face.

Now he has been handed a community order after being convicted for breaching a restraining order imposed for previously harassing her.

And it comes as a district judge warned he could face jail if he fails to leave her alone.

Foote, 60, of Gurney Road, was sentenced at Southampton Magistrates Court for breaching a restraining order and reoffending while subject to a conditional discharge - charges which he denied.

The court heard how Mrs Webb had initially been helping look after Mr Foote's late wife Carolle who was ill.

But the relationship between Foote and mother-of-two Mrs Webb, 51, deteriorated after his wife died.

Prosecutor Dan O'Neill said Foote persistently stood outside her home, turned up at her workplace and followed her to shops and added: "She didn't want the attention, feared what he was capable of doing and was scared of going out alone."

The court heard how police were called on September 2, 2014, when he was found hiding in a car park where he told officers "I can't help it".

Police raided his home afterwards and found photographs of the 51-year-old and the blow-up doll, it was heard.

Magistrates sentenced Foote on February 26, last year to a two year conditional discharge and a five year restraining order for harassment, it was heard.

But the court heard how Mrs Webb spotted Foote 10 months later in Poundland in Shirley High Street while with her grown up daughter on December 22 of last year..

Mr O'Neill told the court how the pair "sensed they were being watched" before seeing Foote walking up the aisle and exiting the store.

Jamie Gammon, for Foote, claimed his client was shopping at the time and had seen them as a coincidence.

He added: "He hasn't gone about to deliberately go after this lady. The proximity to his house shows that he has gone to do his shopping and not to actively seek her out."

But district judge Lorraine Morgan said his actions amounted to harassment and said: "It's the type that has significant impact on the victim in this case. It can be psychological pressure that can be worse than direct contact and threats of violence."

Foote was sentenced to a 12 month community order. He was also ordered to complete a 20 day rehabilitation order, a £100 fine and £680 in costs.