Leeds mum feared 'silent stalker' would break into her home and murder her children

Martin Cook subjected the woman to years of psychological torment by turning up outside her home, workplace and the primary school where she took her children.

She took to sleeping downstairs at her home in Beeston, Leeds, through fear that Cook might break into the property and killer her and her children.

Leeds Crown Court was told the victim also had to resign from her job as a teacher as Cook kept turning up outside the school where she worked and talking to parents about her.

Cook was sentenced to 25 months in prison after pleading guilty to two offences of stalking.

The offences were committed between February and May this year but Cook has previous convictions for harassment and breaching court orders in relation to the same woman.

Ken Green, prosecuting, said Cook was arrested in February this year after the woman reported him for hanging around outside her workplace and outside her home.

Cook denied any wrongdoing and was released on bail while an investigation took place.

The offending continued when Cook turned up outside St Luke's Primary School, Beeston, on May 16 this year as she collected her children from school.