A lovestruck pensioner who stalked a Kylie Minogue impersonator after he became infatuated with her has escaped a jail sentence.

Philip Russill, 68, bombarded Victoria Cluskey, 36, with love letters and cards during a two-year campaign of harassment.

The former salesman also gave her flowers and chocolates, his mobile number and left notes on her car windscreen.

The pensioner was barred from the Wetherspoons pub in Eastbourne where she worked, but still persisted with his unrequited love and rang Miss Cluskey to ask her out on a dinner date.

Despite being told she had a boyfriend and wanted no contact with him, Russill began posting notes through the door of her home in the town.

Prosecutor Andrew Chatterton told Eastbourne Magistrates' Court frightened Cluskey, who called herself Counterfeit Kylie, eventually called the police who arrested Russill.

A search of his bedroom uncovered a shrine to the unlucky in love Australian pop princess, who had a number one hit with "I just can't get you out of my head".

The OAP had scrawled love hearts across posters of Kylie and written inside them his and Miss Cluskey's initials.

Mr Chatterton said: "Miss Cluskey made it clear she had a boyfriend and did not want any contact with him. She then started getting cards through the letterbox at her home address."

Miss Cluskey was not in court, but said in a statement read to the judge: "This has left me feeling very stressed. I have to get friends to stay over or I have to stay away because I do not want to be on my own.

"I was scared of what happened and how far he might go. I hate him and just want it all to stop.

"I have to check around before I get out of the car when I get home as I do not feel safe. I believe he is watching me."

Russill, of Sorrell Drive, Langley, Eastbourne, told the court: "I had no intention of frightening her. When I heard she was frightened I was mortified.

"It sounds a lot worse than it was. This has been a very painful lesson for me, I have nothing but respect for Miss Cluskey."

Daniel Frier, defending, added: "He is deeply sorry for what he's done. He did not realise that his attentions were so unwarranted until it was much too late.

"He says he should have realised much, much sooner."

Russill pleaded guilty to harassment between January, 2004, and August last year, and was given a six-month community order with supervision.

District Judge Roger Ede also imposed a two-year restraining order banning Russill from contacting Cluskey.

He told him: "You intruded on her life in a way which she did not want and you pursued somebody who had rejected your advances.

"You caused her considerable upset and you have got to put it right behind you."

He was also ordered to pay £150 costs.