A STALKER - and convicted rapist - from East Lancashire who forced a female motorist off a busy motorway has been branded a danger to women.

Former deliveries worker Abdul Basit, 26, began by finding out where an ex-colleague lived, and where she parked her car, Burnley Crown Court was told.

His campaign of terror ended with him following her along the M62 as he attempted to force her to pull into services.

His victim, who lives in Accrington, was so frightened that she drove instead to her brother’s home in Middleton, said prosecutors.

Basit, of Hurtley Street, Burnley, pleaded guilty to stalking and was jailed for two year and given a three-year extended licence period by Judge Andrew Jeffries QC, who ruled he was a dangerous offender. An indefinite restraining order was also issued.

Jailing him, Judge Jeffries said: “She must have been absolutely terrified.

“It is right you did not touch her or explicitly threaten her but some may argue the implied threat was worse.”

Alistair Reid, prosecuting said the defendant and his victim had both worked at the same DPD delivery depot in Accrington for a time.

But the court heard Basit’s tenure was called into question when his 2015 conviction for rape emerged.

Mr Reid said Basit not only waited for his ex-colleague where she parked her car but was also found waiting for her near her home.

The stalking culminated in an incident on October 23 when Basit followed his ex-colleague's vehicle along the M62 as he tried to get her to pull over.

Neil Ronan, defending, said: “He genuinely has no understanding of what he was doing and the effect he has on people.”

The defendant was clearly remorseful for his conduct, he added.