A judge told a man to “move on” after he stalked and harassed a former partner for more than a year.

Bradford Crown Court heard that Tolani Adedeji followed the woman to her place of work, shouted at her and hung around, hid in bushes outside her home, bombarded her with calls and text messages, and even loitered outside a family gathering in a bid to persuade her to speak to him.

Prosecutor Lauren Smith said the two had begun a relationship in May 2021 but it deteriorated when Adedeji’s behaviour became aggressive.

There were multiple incidents between February 4, 2022, and March 8, 2023, including when he turned up uninvited at her home, knocking on doors and windows sometimes for a matter of hours.

On one occasion Adedeji spat at the woman’s face. On another he slapped her and threw a plastic sauce bottle that hit her in the head before bursting and leaving a mess in her home.

On a third occasion he belittled her, called her “a slag” and poured a can of Coke over her head.

And on a fourth occasion he pushed her to the floor after demanding to read messages on her mobile phone.

When interviewed by police Adedeji, 46, of St Blaise Court, Bradford, denied doing anything wrong or stalking the victim, who chose not to provide a personal victim statement.

Adedeji later pleaded guilty to stalking.

His Honour Judge Ahmed Nadim said Adedeji’s “troubling behaviour” had treated his victim with contempt and left her feeling stressed and scared.

He said: “There is a great deal of public concern about men like you who are unable to accept the autonomy of their partner’s decision that a relationship is at an end.

“Men like you in those circumstances present ongoing danger to their former partners and that is what you have done: you have harassed her for a prolonged period of time.

“Leave this lady well alone. Move on.”

He sentenced Adedeji to six months in prison suspended for 18 months, ordered him to carry out 250 hours of unpaid work, to undertake 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days, and complete a building better relationships programme.

He was also made subject to a five-year restraining order, which bans him from any contact with the victim.