A salesman stalker who moved to the same street where his victim lived, tried to apply to the same gym as her and even bought the same dog and car as her has been jailed for 20 months.

Martin Gunn had met the victim, who we are not naming, on the Hinge dating app and started stalking her after just a few dates.

The 51-year-old was arrested and charged after he texted a woman on Valentine’s Day almost a year later, having still not gotten over the fling, a court heard.

In the mean time he had sent numerous unwanted letters and emails, repeatedly attended her child’s school, place of work, home address and gym.

Gunn had reacted badly to being told by the victim, a businesswoman in Windsor, that she just wanted to be friends after they connected over the dating app in March last year.

Flowers appeared on the victim’s doorstep and he bought her tickets to a Chelsea football match, the prosecutor said.

Gunn messaged the victim to let her know he would be joining the same gym as her, prompting her to rush to the facility and plead with the management to refuse his application. 

Although Gunn was refused access, he was often spotted loitering around outside the gym, the court heard. 

In November last year, the victim purchased a black Mercedes E-class car and within the same month the defendant brought the same E-class, causing the victim concern.

It was only in December last year, after the victim became increasingly concerned about Gunn continuing to drive past her house, contact her and attempt to give her letters, that she contacted the police and he was arrested.

Gunn was released on bail conditions not to contact the victim, but the court heard how she had subsequently seen him filming her from his home as she walked past and approached her at Costa Coffee in the town. 

The 51-year-old had initially admitted stalking involving fear of violence between August 1 2023 and February 14 this year, but later tried to apply to vacate his plea, arguing he had been given bad legal advice.

Judge Jane Rowley attempted to discourage the heavy-built defendant from making the application, stating he had ‘made admissions’ to the author of a pre-sentence report.

‘He has, in effect, admitted his guilt’, Judge Rowley said. ‘The pre-sentence report identifies Mr Gunn seems to have a deficit in his thinking. 

‘He is attempting to minimise and deflect what he has done although deep down in his heart - as reflected by the guilty plea - he probably knows what he did was wrong.

‘The pre-sentence report does make plain his risk cannot be managed in the community, any custodial sentence may help to deter him. No judge in their right mind would grant this man bail.

‘It is quite a damning report, which refers to the defendant having all the hallmarks of lacking insight into his behaviour and his continued denial and rationalisations.’

The judge added: ‘Despite being in a new relationship, on Valentine’s Day he contacted the victim again in breach of his bail.’

Judge Rowley added that in the ‘unlikely event’ plea is vacated, the fact Gunn pleaded guilty to stalking involving fear of violence between August 1 2023 and February 14 this year in the magistrates court would be potentially admissible evidence if he has a trial.

She also said it was hoped Gunn had ‘moved on’ from the victim during his time in custody, during which he had already served the equivalent of an eight-month sentence.

On July 12, Gunn withdrew his application to vacate his plea and was jailed for 20 months imprisonment and slapped with a restraining order imposed for 7 years.