A MAN set up a fake Instagram account to follow a woman after she asked him several times to leave her alone.

Matthew North, 30, of Hazely Combe, Arreton, ended up in court after months of harassment and after the woman told him she would go to the police if he didn't stop pursuing her.

He admitted harassment without violence between July 2, 2021, and March 20, 2022.

Ann Smout, prosecuting at the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, said it was an unusual case in that there was no domestic context — there had never been a relationship between North and his victim.

The woman had contacted Hunnyhill Aquatics for advice about a pond, where North worked, and he visited her home on business.

She added him as a friend on Facebook and he started messaging her.

Alarm bells started to ring over some of his messages, so she told him she was deleting her Facebook profile, and un-friended him.

He turned up uninvited to her house with equipment for her pond, and then the next day came back and stood on her doorstep for a long time. He also contacted her on Instagram.

She asked him to leave her alone and said she would go to the police if he persisted.

He friended all her friends on social media and 'liked' all their posts with her in, matched her on dating site Tinder, then set up an Instagram account in a woman's name and added all her friends.

When interviewed by the police, he admitted it all, Mrs Smout told the court.

Jim Osborne, representing North, said although he wouldn't take no for an answer, he had thought there was a chance of a relationship but now knows that's not the case.

Mr Osborne said there was no harm involved and no intention to cause harm.

Sentencing was adjourned to May 27.

North was granted unconditional bail.