Romsey lifeguard Thomas Perkins was handed a suspended sentence after he was found guilty of stalking a young woman for six months

Thomas Perkins, of Hunters Crescent in Romsey, “bombarded” the young woman with emails and Facebook messages, followed her in his car and contacted her while she went on holiday with her family.

The 20-year-old denied the offence, but was found guilty following a trial at Bournemouth Crown Court.

He was cleared of committing sexual assault and threatening to kill the woman.

The defendant, pictured above, was spared prison after Judge John Harrow heard that he had been “young and potentially naive” at the time the offences were committed.

Mitigating, Tom Wright said Perkins was not a “fantasist imagining he [was] in love with some glamorous film star”.

“It is quite clear that he realised what he had been doing and what he had done was horrible,” he said.

“He used the phrase himself - he was 'disgusting, horrible', and showed thereby he had some insight into what he had done.”

Mr Wright said “passions were running high” when Perkins began stalking the woman last year.

“He has showed genuine remorse,” he said.

“He understands that he had been obsessed.”

Perkins has kept his job at the Rapids in Romsey despite the conviction.

Perkins has kept his job at The Rapids in Romsey, pictured

James Newton-Price, prosecuting, read aloud a statement written by the victim.

“In the statement, she said, 'Before I met Tom, I was a strong, independent, confident woman and more than capable of looking after myself',” he said.

“She says she is frightened to be alone and only feels safe at home or at work.”

Judge Harrow told Perkins: “Over the period [of your offending] you behaviour was, and I hope you can now understand it, appalling, objectionable, and it caused her a great deal of distress.”

He added: “You were obsessed with her and you could not let go.”

The judge sentenced Perkins to a 12-month sentence of imprisonment, suspended for two years, as well as a restraining order barring him from contacting his victim.

He will also be supervised by the Probation Service for the full two years.

Judge Harrow said: “I don't see why the public should bear the cost of your trial so you can pay £1,000 towards the prosecution costs.

“You can also pay your victim £1,000 for the harm and emotional distress you have caused her."

After the case Ian Fowler, assistant manager at Romsey Rapids, said that Perkins is still employed by the company but that an investigation has been launched.

He would not confirm whether Perkins will keep his job following the inquiry.

Mr Fowler said: “There will be an internal investigation but I can’t tell you what that will involve at the moment.”