A retired headmaster who became obsesses with a waitress showered gifts on a café and broke into her home to steal photographs of her.
Married Peter Foreman developed a 'creepy' obsession for Helen Beer which led to him stalking her for six months in which he followed her around and broke into her home..
He bombarded her with gifts worth more than £1,000. They included bunches of flowers costing up to £190 each, Dior perfume, a Hermes scarf worth £290, chocolates.
She kept the gifts rather than returning them and this fuelled his fixation, leading him to invite her on a trio to the Channel Isles which she turned down.
He became a daily visitor to Jotty's Café in Budleigh Salterton where she worked and watched her through the window when she was not inside.
Exeter Crown Court heard his obsession became more sinister when he went to her home in Exmouth, Devon, and got in using a key he found under a plant pot.
He took photographs from a kitchen drawer and used one to create a false business card in her name which purported to show her offering escort services.
Foreman, aged 64, of East Street, Budleigh Salterton, admitted harassment and was jailed for four months, suspended for two years and ordered to receive two years supervision.
He was also banned from contacting her or going near Jotty's Café or her home in the Exmouth Docks.
Judge Phillip Wassall said he was mystified why a man with an exemplary record, who had devoted his life to teaching primary school children, should start behaving in this way at his age.
He said Foreman became "fixated" with Miss Beer and "showered her with gifts".
Mr Gordon Richings, prosecuting, said Foreman went to the café as a customer over a three year period.
He said:"He appears to have developed an obsession with Miss Beer. The prosecution must stress that it did not develop into a sexual relationship. Miss Beer was never in a relationship with the defendant."
"They used to chat but in her words, his attentions became creepy."
He asked Miss Beer if she wanted to go horse riding with him or on a day trip to Jersey. He began lurking outside the café and she changed the locks at her home after realising someone had been inside.
She continued to receive and accept gifts from him for occasions like her birthday but that appeared to raise his hopes and maintain his interest in her, said Mr Richings.
In March this year she received a mock business card of an escort agency in the post bearing a photo of herself which had been taken from her home.
She then called in the police and officers found the stolen photos at Foreman's home.
Mr Nick Bradley, defending, said Foreman had an exceptional record as a primary school head teacher. He is a married man who plans to move away from Devon and has put his home on the market.
