A MAN has been given a six-year restraining order after becoming so besotted with a teenage female relative he harassed her over several months.

Krzystof Andrzejczak, 37, of Church Street, Welshpool, had pleaded guilty on May 21 at the town’s magistrates, having been charged with undertaking a course of conduct which amounted to harassment between January 1 and May 5 this year.

On Tuesday, he appeared again at the court to be given a six-year restraining order to prevent him making any contact with the 18-year-old victim directly or indirectly, or to approach within 100 metres of her home, also in the town.

Helen Tench, prosecuting, said Andrzejczak had an “obsession” with the victim and “imagined she was in love with him”. He began declaring his love to her, texting her and repeatedly asking her out despite her saying no every time.

The court heard that Andrzejczak would turn up at the door of her family’s home having been drinking and shouting abuse, and in April her father received a text which said “she needs me more now than anyone else, you are her father, you have to help us”.

Ms Tench said the victim sent Andrzejczak a message telling him to stop texting her, and then blocked him, but he turned up at her home and tried to barge into the property, and was then found outside in the hallway, wearing only his boxer shorts, by police.

He went back to the property in early May and continued to shout abuse outside it, Ms Tench said.

Personal statements had been submitted by the victim’s mother who said she “fears for the safety of her daughter”, and the victim who said: “I fear for my own life. He knows where I work. I do not want him to come near me.”

Robert Hanratty, defending, said Andrzejczak was a man of “previously good character”.

He added: “It is very unfortunate. He accepts he became besotted with her and his drinking wasn’t helping.

“He has had an opportunity to reflect and there have been no incidents since.”

Chair of the magistrates bench, Nerys Jones, sentenced Andrzejczak to an 18-month community order which includes 60 hours of unpaid work.

He was handed a six-year restraining order, to end in 2025, which prevents him from going within 100 metres of the victim’s address, or contact her by any means, directly or indirectly.

Andrzejczak will also pay £300 in compensation to the victim, as well as £85 costs and a victim surcharge of £85.