A man stalked a mental health services worker, bombarding her with Facebook messages and sending gifts to her family, Bradford Crown Court heard.

The woman was left “a nervous wreck” after her former patient Waqar Qadir sent her hundreds of pages of messages and photos over a period of more than 12 months.

Qadir, 35, of Fenby Gardens, Dudley Hill, Bradford, pleaded guilty to stalking causing harassment alarm and distress by repeatedly contacting his victim and revealing that he knew personal details about her and members of her family.

Prosecutor Graham O’Sullivan said the offence took place between 2017 and 2018.

Before then, Qadir tried to add the woman as a friend on Facebook but she had declined the request.

Eighteen months later, he contacted her using a false name and profile. He unnerved her by revealing that he knew what car she drove and other details about her hobbies and lifestyle.

She did not know who was sending her the messages but it “freaked her out,” Mr O’Sullivan said.

She threatened to block him and report him if he didn’t stop.

Qadir began messaging her under another false name two months later saying he was buying her a pearl necklace.

She then discovered 327 pages of messages she had not previously seen, along with 199 photographs.

She realised that it was the same person contacting her using different false names.

Qadir must have been Googling the woman and members of her family to find out about them, Mr O’Sullivan said.

He began phoning a member of her family at his workplace using another false name and he sent him two parcels. The police seized the packages and found Qadir’s fingerprints on them.

He had 20 previous convictions for 39 offences, including harassment, the court was told.

Qadir’s barrister, David McGonigal, conceded: “It must have been a very frightening experience for the complainant.”

His client was responding well to treatment for his mental health problems and had not committed any further offences.

Judge Colin Burn said the stalking was “very worrying and unnerving” for the victim. It made her feel afraid and vulnerable.

But Qadir was doing well being treated in the community and it would be counter-productive to send him to prison. The public would be better served if he continued making the good progress.

Judge Burn sentenced Qadir to 12 months imprisonment, suspended for two years. He must attend the Thinking Skills Programme and undertake 15 rehabilitation activity days with the probation service.

A restraining order bans him from having any contact with the woman or her family for eight years.