A CANCER sufferer who stole all of his former partner's left shoes during a 20-month campaign of harassment has been warned he could face jail.

Darlington Magistrates' Court heard yesterday how Ann-Marie McIlwain's car and house were frequently vandalised by Stephen Liddle, 45, that she received numerous phone calls and texts and, at one point, he threw a McDonald's Happy Meal in her face.

Liddle, of Copley House, Lascelles Park, Darlington, pleaded guilty to one charge of harassment, and two unrelated shoplifting offences. Jonathan Bambro, prosecuting, told the court that the couple's relationship ended in May 2005.

Shortly afterwards, Ms Mc- Ilwain's house began being vandalised and she started receiving calls from withheld numbers.

Mr Bambro said she came home on one occasion to find that someone had been in the house.

He said: "When she checked all her shoes, all the left shoes were missing and also a pair of River Island jeans. Part of this campaign was taking her favourite items.

"She found it very distressing and inevitably changed the house locks."

A few months later, she found the jeans neatly folded on her doorstep. They had been cut several times with a knife.

Ms McIlwain's car windows were smashed, panels were scratched and paint-stripper was poured over it.

Graham Hunsley, in mitigation, said that for the ten years previously, Liddle had not been in trouble.

He said Liddle had been diagnosed and treated for cancer, and that his client had thought the treatment was successful, but that cancer had returned in a number of places.

Mr Hunsley said: "I do not suppose that at the time he was thinking straight. He probably had a great deal more on his mind."

Magistrates adjourned proceedings for pre-sentence reports, including a medical report.

They said prison was an option.

The case was adjourned until October 9