A MAN who send a message in blood to a woman he was stalking has been banned from entering Grays.

The story of how Tomas Endler, 36, harassed and pursued his victim unfolded at Basildon Magistrates' Court.

Endler, 36, a Czech national living on Charles Street in Grays, had originally pleaded not guilty but changed his mind and admitted his acts.

The court heard that between February and March Endler had stalked his victim, attending her place of work and waiting outside the shop for her at closing times, refusing to leave.

He followed her to the town's train station a number of times, followed her during her lunchbreak and approached her in Grays town centre.

He also followed her out to the back of her place of work and told customers in the shop he was waiting for her to finish work to have sex with her.

And magistrates heard he had sent her a number of handwritten notes, one of which had his fingerprint in blood inside a heart on it.

Endler was ordered to pay his victim £150 in compensation and to pay costs and a surcharge totaling £185. The money will be deducted from his benefits.

He is banned from making any contact with his victim and from visiting Grays, other than to visit his doctor's surgery, for a year. He must also undergo rehabilitation activity.