AN 'eccentric' Skipton man who repeatedly made 'unwanted advances' to a casual acquaintance has been given a community sentence by magistrates.

Paul Boocock, 55, had started by saying 'hello' to the woman when he had seen her out with her dog in Greatwood Recreation Ground, but had graduated by repeatedly asking her to go out with him, heard the Skipton court.

The woman described on one occasion how Boocock had pulled her towards him and had attempted to kiss her.

He followed her to her home, knocked on her door and despite being issued with a harassment warning from the police, continued his behaviour.

Prosecuting, Melanie Ibbotson, said the woman had become frightened and afraid of Boocock and that his behaviour had escalated.

He had told her if the case went to court that she would 'regret it' and that if he was convicted, there would be 'repercussions' said Ms Ibbotson.

Boocock, who denied harassment without violence between July 1, 2016 and March 11 last year, was found guilty following a trial in December.

In mitigation, John Mewies said Boocock was an eccentric man who 'lived his own life'.

"He is independently minded and has an outlook on life that some of us don't agree with. He has a lonely existence and craves friendship, and people that he tries to become friends with sometimes misinterpret his actions. It seems he had aspirations of the relationship flourishing, but the woman had no such intentions," he said.

Mr Mewies said there were no meaningful threats made against the woman and no violence and added that Boocock had a 'clumsy way of communicating with people'.

Boocock, of North Parade, was given a 12 month community order with up to 25 rehabilitation requirement activity days to address thinking skills, the consequences of his actions, and victim empathy. He will also have to carry out 90 hours unpaid work and pay costs of £250 and a surcharge of £85.

Magistrates also agreed to impose an indefinite restraining order, barring Boocock from contacting the woman, directly or indirectly, and not to enter the road where she lives.

The court heard Boocock was already subject to a restraining order barring him from contacting a different woman.