A WOMAN who moved into a flat after living in a refuge was afraid to return home following a serial sex offender and neighbour’s efforts to befriend her, Caernarfon Crown Court heard.

David Pritchard, aged 54, of Hill Street, Menai Bridge, Anglesey, appeared to follow her, knocked on her door repeatedly, had a large bunch of flowers delivered to her and wanted the 47-year-old mum to look in his bedroom where he had posters of scantily-clad girls.

Prosecutor Jo Maxwell said the woman had a panic attack and suffered post-traumatic stress. Pritchard’s behaviour “profoundly” affected her mental health.

Pritchard admitted breaching a sexual offences prevention order by distressing the woman. He had previous convictions for indecent assault and breaching the order.

Dafydd Roberts, defending, said: "What he says is he didn’t intend to cause her alarm or distress. He wanted to befriend her.” At first the victim thought it was good neighbourly behaviour.

Mr Roberts said Pritchard had been offence-free for seven years.

Imposing a 16 months jail term, Judge Huw Rees said the woman was “vulnerable”. Pritchard’s behaviour became “unsettling and personally intrusive.”