A former police officer who showered his ex-girlfriend with gifts and cards seven years after they split up has been handed a restraining order.

Roger Gough, 69, of George Pearce House, Gloucestershire, must not directly or indirectly contact Carole Jenner, who lives in Ham, for the next 18 months.

He was given an 18-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge when he was sentenced at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court on October 1.

An earlier trial found him guilty of harassment without violence and he is now banned from entering Perryfield Way, Ham, but can still come to the borough of Richmond.

Prosecuting, Claudius Taylor Sonko told the court Gough sent letters to Miss Jenner after the couple broke up in 2006 and kept sending them after she started to ignore him in 2009.

The last time of contact was earlier this year when Miss Jenner returned to her home to find a hand-delivered letter from Gough instructing her to look in the bin cupboard in her front garden, where she found CDs and a mirror.

Later that evening she saw Gough drive past in a blue vehicle, the court was told.

Mr Taylor Sonko said: “She was scared she would bump into him. She saw Mr Gough walking towards her. He was following her.

“Miss Jenner reported the matter to the police.”

Speaking outside the court, Gough, who met Miss Jenner when they worked for Kingston police, said he had planned to propose to his former girlfriend the day he went to her house.

He said: “I have done nothing but wish her the very best and wish her family the best.

“I have never made any threats. If she were to say the relationship could start again then I would say yes.”

He said the last time he had a face-to-face conversation with his ex was in 2006 shortly after they broke up.

Gough, who appeared at court unrepresented, told the court he had lodged an appeal against the conviction.