A STALKER sent abusive emails and unsolicited flowers to a hotel worker before turning up near her home address.

Alejandro Thornhill was a regular customer at the Pier Hotel in Harwich. However, in October last year he made crude comments about one of the receptionists after a drinking session.

He was asked to leave but returned a few days later when the woman was working and made prolonged eye contact with her while she was on the phone.

She eventually served Thornhill but he left without finishing his drink.

Within a few hours, two anonymous emails had been sent to the hotel describing the woman as “an ornament” and a “waste of space” as well as swearing about her.

Thornhill returned to the hotel a few days later and was spotted inspecting a business card for a florist before a bunch of roses arrived.

A man – who staff suspected was Thornhill – later left an abusive message saying they were to say sorry.

In the months afterwards, the 37-year-old was spotted near to the woman’s home address and followed her as she drove to work.

She later found traffic cones on the roof of her car which he had put there.

Thornhill, of Victoria Street, Harwich, was handed an

18 week jail sentence, suspended for 18 months , at Colchester Magistrates’ Court.

He was also ordered to carry out 150 hours unpaid work and 30 rehabilitation days after admitting stalking between October last year and June.

He has a previous conviction for harassment.

The victim said Thornhill’s behaviour had made her worried and fearful each time she took a call at work or opened an email.

Raphael Piggott, mitigating, said Thornhill had referred himself for help with his alcohol consumption and said he had suffered racist abuse.

He said: “He doesn’t drink very often but when he does it is because he feels lonely and isolated.

“His Spanish heritage means he has suffered racism in the Harwich area and uses alcohol as a crutch.”

District Judge Julie Cooper said: “Clearly this is very distressing to the young woman.

“This is not the first time this has happened and has left her looking over her shoulder.”

He must pay compensation of £150, costs of £85 and a £115 victim surcharge and is banned from the hotel for five years.