A DIVORCED man stalked a Burnley Jobcentre employee with whom he had become besotted while signing on, a court was told.

The town's magistrates heard how Nasseer Ahmed, 41, gave Caroline Faulkner red roses and a "soppy" card and stared at her as she worked, during a three-month "obsession".

Stephen Parker, prosecuting, said Ahmed was claiming Jobseekers' Allowance and had to sign on at the Jobcentre every fortnight, but Miss Faulkner began to realise he was going in every day.

Ahmed, of Colne Road, Burnley, was also said to have followed Miss Faulkner in Burnley during her lunch-hour.

He failed to heed police warnings to back off and when officers later went to his home to arrest him, Ahmed had a badge on the fireplace saying "Nas loves Caroline", the court was told.

Ahmed told officers he had fallen in love with Miss Faulkner, and there was nothing he could do about it.

The court was told how the victim became very unhappy at work, and at home, because of Ahmed's "scary infatuation" with her.

Mr Parker said Ahmed would stand staring at the victim and she would have to go into a back room.

On one occasion Ahmed turned up with a carrier bag containing a card saying I Love You', and a keyring with her name on it.

Mr Parker said Ahmed approached the victim and persisted in trying to talk to her as she was in the Market Square on her lunch break.

Another time, said Mr Parker, Miss Faulkner was with her boyfriend when Ahmed went up to the couple and said "Hello you two" as if they knew each other.

Mr Parker said on September 8, Miss Faulkner was at her desk when Ahmed approached her, said "These are for you" and handed her some red roses, which she refused to accept.

David Lawson, defending, said Ahmed had accepted what he had done was wrong, and his conduct was "akin to a schoolboy having a crush on a schoolgirl".

Ahmed has now been banned from the town centre between noon and 2pm, while probation officers prepare a pre-sentence report.

He admitted harassment between June 14 and September 8.

He was bailed until October 13 and must not contact Miss Faulkner, or go near the Jobcentre.

The bench told him they were looking at a community order, with supervision and unpaid work.