A NIGHT stalker who terrorised a woman police officer into fearing he would break into her home and rape her has been jailed for eight months.

Simon Ward pestered the mother of two with vile and disgusting pornography and text messages and left a chilling voicemail in the early hours telling her what sexual acts he wanted to perform on her, Bradford Crown Court heard.

The serving police officer had given Ward her mobile phone number when he was doing joinery work at her home in the Keighley area the previous summer, prosecutor Stephanie Hancock said today.

She had hardly seen him for several months when he sent pornographic videos to her at dead of night via WhatsApp in January this year.

Ward, 33, of South Street, Keighley, later texted to apologise, saying he was drunk.

But a fortnight later, he struck again, sending nine sexually explicit phone messages in the night, telling her what he wanted to do to her.

When she did not reply, he messaged: "You know you're there."

In the morning, Ward again apologised, saying he had mental health problems and asking the woman not to tell his wife.

"She felt very uneasy and, after thinking back at his earlier behaviour, she reported it to the police," Miss Hancock said.

Ward was arrested and told investigating officers he had suffered a mental breakdown and was having relationship problems.

He denied being attracted to the female officer, saying that was not his motivation.

Ward pleaded guilty to stalking the West Yorkshire Police officer by sending her a number of sexually explicit, offensive, inappropriate and unwanted text messages and videos and making unwanted telephone calls.

In her victim impact statement, she said: "I could not stop shaking and my stomach was in knots. I felt sick and terrified that he would get into the house and rape me."

Ward's barrister, Jayne Beckett, said he was seeking help from Alcoholics Anonymous, Project 6 in Keighley and the Abundant Life Centre church in Bradford.

He was keeping completely clear of drugs and alcohol and lived alone after his marriage had ended.

Judge Jonathan Rose said the female officer had given Ward her mobile phone number because he was working at her home last year.

"Your behaviour towards her was a profound violation of that trust," he said.

She had now installed CCTV cameras at her home and was afraid to return to her address after working shifts.

Ward had repeatedly pestered her with vile text messages, speaking of disgusting sexual acts.

"There cannot yet be forgiveness for you. You terrorised her and for that there can only be one outcome, an immediate custodial sentence," Judge Rose said.

"There must be a clear message to others who stalk or pester or frighten women that this will be the outcome."

The judge made a five year restraining order banning Ward from contacting the officer.