A “fixated” teenager who stalked a Bradford shop assistant, bombarding her with phone calls and throwing stones at her bedroom window, has been spared an immediate custodial sentence but warned to stay away from his victim.

Student Faisal Hussain refused to accept that his brief relationship with the 17-year-old girl many months ago was over, Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday.

Hussain, 18, of Curzon Road, Barkerend, Bradford, was controlling and made threats to his former girlfriend after they had broken up, prosecutor Ken Green said.

He was dealt with at Bradford Youth Court with a referral order last year for robbing her of her phone and, on August 7 this year, he pleaded guilty at Bradford and Keighley Magistrates’ Court to stalking her, between July 27 and August 2 this year.

The magistrates sent the case to the Crown Court for sentence.

Mr Green said that on July 27, Hussain went to the shop in Bradford city centre where the girl worked and followed her around the store for up to 15 minutes. He did the same thing four days later and, on August 1, he sent her ten text messages and made 70 phone calls to her.

At 4.30am on August 2, Hussain drove to her home in Bradford and threw stones at her bedroom window to attract her attention.

Mr Green said Hussain was outside the house for two hours and was arrested for harassment.

He told the police he was confused about his relationship with the girl and still loved her.

Hussain’s barrister Alasdair Campbell said he did not use any violence while stalking his victim and made no threats to her.

Judge John Potter sentenced Hussain to five months’ custody in a young offender institution, suspended for 12 months, with probation service supervision and 60 hours of unpaid work.

He made a restraining order barring Hussain from having any contact with the girl, including going near her home or place of work.

Judge Potter told Hussain: “You have become fixated on her and that led you to commit serious offences.”

He said Hussain was intelligent, in employment and studying hard.

But the judge warned him he faced custody if he did not leave his victim alone in the future.