A MAN who harassed a single mother because he ‘was hoping to ask her out on a date’ has been sentenced to 12 weeks in prison.

James Bruton, 27, was sentenced at Dorchester Crown Court after admitting a harassment charge, which related to his conduct towards Tracey Fowler between January 1 and March 27.

The court was told the harassment began one night in January when Mrs Fowler was at her Weymouth home and heard a knocking on her window and door.

Prosecutor Jennie Rickman said she could see someone standing outside through the glass panels of the door and eventually they left.

She said similar incidents occurred over the next few weeks and when she did answer the door she found Bruton smelling of alcohol and ‘talking rubbish’.

Miss Rickman said on March 26 Mrs Fowler was watching television at around 7pm when the defendant walked in through the conservatory at the back of her home.

She said she managed to force Bruton out into the back garden and when there was a knock at the front door he fled.

In a victim personal statement Mrs Fowler, who lived alone with her three children, said the incident had left her feeling vulnerable.

She said: “I don’t feel safe anymore.”

Darren Bartlett, representing Bruton, said his client had been hoping to ask Mrs Fowler out but was unable to pluck up the courage.

He said: “It was a very misguided and juvenile attempt to try and get her out on a date.”

Judge Roger Jarvis sentenced Bruton, of Adelaide Crescent, Weymouth, to 12 weeks in custody and also imposed a restraining order preventing him from contacting Mrs Fowler or going into the street where she lived.