SHOP owner Madeline Leighton's life was made such hell by a stalker that she became depressed and was unable to sleep without tranquillisers, magistrates heard.

Miss Leighton, who owns Ab Fab in Devizes, was plagued by letters, phone calls and text messages from her ex-boyfriend Nicholas England.

England, of Banbury, Oxfordshire, appeared before Kennet magistrates in Devizes on Monday charged with breaking a restraining order banning him from seeing or contacting Miss Leighton.

The two-year order was imposed in the spring when he was jailed for four months for stalking and common assault on Miss Leighton.

On Monday, the court was told he started writing to her from prison, and immediately on his release he went to see her, hung around outside her shop in New Park Street and sent her hundreds of text messages, as well as numerous phone calls and answer phone messages.

Anna Humphreys, prosecuting, said Miss Leighton was extremely fearful for her own safety.

Magistrates bailed England for sentencing at Salisbury Crown Court. No date was set.