A FORMER student from Birmingham who “tormented” a woman for 14 years after they briefly met in a phone queue at university, has been handed a five-year restraining order.

Fabian Venkatasamy bombarded his victim Joanna Hawkins with emails, sent her unwanted gifts and traced her to her place of work using the internet.

District Judge Jan Jellema handed Venkatasamy a two-year community rehabilitation order and told him to keep away from Miss Hawkins for the next five years.

The 33-year-old, formerly of Alcester Road South, Maypole, but now living in Fulham, London, admitted pursuing a course of conduct which amounted to the harassment of Miss Hawkins when he appeared at Birmingham Magistrates Court yesterday.

He sent her numerous emails, attended her place of work and contacted members of her family, the court heard.

Then on September 6 this year Venkatasamy delivered a card and an “I love you” cuddly toy dog to her workplace.

Ebony Mitchell-Whyte, prosecuting, said Miss Hawkins went to university in 1996 and met Venkatasamy in a phone queue.