A 44-YEAR-OLD Stroud man, who got a work colleague to deliver an engagement ring to the victim of his unwanted advances, has been given a suspended jail sentence.

Jeremy Hawkes of Upper Church Road, Cainscross denied stalking the woman in the town between March 7 and 29 when he appeared before Cheltenham Magistrates' Court today.

He sent her unwanted and unwelcome e-mails and text messages and on March 13 followed her to Uplands Primary School.

On March 15 he contacted her indirectly by getting a work colleague of his to attend her home and deliver an engagement ring and note.

And on March 28 he knocked on her door.

Magistrates found him guilty as charged and gave him a nine-week prison sentence suspended for a year and 12 months supervision.

Hawkes was also made the subject of a restraining order not to contact the woman until August 13, 2019.

He was ordered to pay prosecution costs of £620.