A MAN admitted harassing his neighbour after she accused him of committing an indecent act in his front garden, a court heard.

Stephen Robert Kinsella, of Court Close, Bridport, was sentenced after pleading guilty to harassment without violence at Weymouth Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, March 16.

Prosecuting, Elizabeth Valera, told the court that the harassment took place between September 1 and October 19 last year after the victim, the defendant's neighbour, thought she saw him committing an indecent act in his front garden. Following the alleged incident, the victim made a statement to police.

Ms Valera said that since providing the statement to police there had been a number of incidents of harassment towards the victim.

The victim said following advice from police she had made a record of the harassment.

She said on a number of occasions Kinsella had shouted insulting words at her on the street and swore at her.

On one occasion, she said Kinsella came to her door and started to take his coat off making her feel 'panicked'. Kinsella told the victim he needed help, took off his jumper and showed her a bruise on his arm.

The victim said she told Kinsella to get off her property.

Ms Valera described Court Close as being a 'quiet close of residential properties'.

Mitigating, Ian Brazier, said that Kinsella, aged 61, had been struggling with his physical and mental health.

He said that Kinsella, who lives with his brother, had lost two sisters in recent years which had affected his mood as he had fewer people he felt he could talk to.

Mr Brazier said: "The (victim) thinks she sees him in an indecent act. He was not very happy about being accused of that. These various insults are a result of that.

"He accepts that he shouldn't have done it."

Chairman of the bench, Steve Takel, issued Kinsella with a two-year conditional discharge and a two-year restraining order preventing him from contacting the victim or her husband directly or indirectly and must not attend their address.

Kinsella must also pay £150 in compensation to the victim, as well £85 for court costs and a £22 victim surcharge.