Lawyers acting for a spinster jailed after stalking a priest have failed in a bid to get the judge to review her sentence.

Bernadette Quinn was brought back to Bradford Crown Court yesterday so her barrister could put arguments before Judge Geoffrey Kamil who jailed her up for two years earlier this month.

The 43-year-old cleaner, who suffers from a condition known as De Cleranbault's Syndrome - also known as erotomania - believed Father Jonathan Hart was in love with her.

Quinn bombarded him with letters and gifts, including flowers and a jumper, before she was made the subject of a two-year restraining order by magistrates in 2001. But Judge Kamil heard two weeks ago that Quinn, of Dodge Holme Court, Mixenden, continued to harass Father Hart, who was an assistant priest at St Malachy's Church in Halifax.

Despite submissions from Quinn's barrister Gordon Lakin, Judge Kamil confirmed the jail sentence and an indefinite restraining order.

He emphasised that Father Hart, who has taken up a post at St Peter's Church in Laisterdyke, was "at his wit's end".

Quinn has been in custody since August - the equivalent of an 11-month sentence - and Mr Lakin argued that if she had to be sent to custody it should be a "short, sharp sentence".

Judge Kamil repeated that Quinn's case was a difficult and troubling one. But he highlighted a probation officer's report which stated that little progress had been made with her under a previous community rehabilitation order.

The officer said Quinn had been aggressive and threatening and staff working with her could be at risk of harm.

Judge Kamil, who hit back at what he described as vitriolic correspondence he had received about the case, noted a psychiatrist's view that there was a risk of re-offending even with some kind of out-patient treatment.

He said such people should be looked after in a secure hospital, but hospitals were not prepared to accept people unless they have a treatable condition.

After the hearing Quinn's solicitor Chris Haddock confirmed that the case would be taken to the Court of Appeal and he hoped a bail application would be heard next week.