A BIKER whose unwanted attentions brought months of terror to his former partner was warned by a court yesterday to stay away from her or face jail.

Sarah Tyrer, prosecuting, told Harrogate magistrates how Stephen Walker, 34, had harassed his ex-partner, Sharon Snowden, over three months, leaving her a virtual prisoner in her own home.

Mrs Tyrer said police had twice warned Walker over his behaviour but he had not stopped.

A court injunction had also had no effect on him after the couple's 12-year, on-and-off relationship ended in January.

Walker, now of Grove Park Terrace, Harrogate, had made visits to Ms Snowden's home in Bowland Close in the town, threatening to snatch their three-year-old son and revving his motorcycle outside.

Mrs Tyrer said things had come to a head on August 30 when he put a letter through Ms Snowden's door proclaiming his love for her and then verbally and physically attacking her.

Ms Snowden had managed to get to the personal attack alarm police had given her and summon their help.

Walker pleaded guilty to harassment.

A charge of threatening behaviour was dropped.

His solicitor, Geoffrey Rogers, said he had ended the relationship, walking out in January under the impression Ms Snowden was seeing another man.

He said Rogers wanted to get back with her and had breached a court order and harassment warnings to take her a love letter.

Court chairman Tim Burrell called for probation reports covering all sentencing options and adjourned the hearing until December 23.

Bailing Walker on condition he had no contact of any kind with Ms Snowden, Mr Burrell warned: ''If you communicate in any way, you will be brought back here and probably your feet won't touch the ground as you trundle into prison.'