A schizophrenic stalker from New Malden, who hounded a worker at Kingston’s Rose Theatre, has been told his actions were so serious only a custodial sentence was appropriate.

Magistrates said Giuseppe Persechino, 44, mounted an “intense period of harassment” against the employee over the course of a week in January.

They sentenced him to seven weeks in prison but, because Persechino has already been on remand for 26 days, the equivalent of a two-month sentence, he was freed from custody after the hearing at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, February 25.

The court heard that Persechino, of Cotsford Avenue, became infatuated with the Rose Theatre employee on January 26.

Prosecutor Abigail Hill said over the course of the next four days Persechino was seen hanging around the theatre throughout the day, pacing the cafe area.

He waited for the employee when she started and finished work, the court heard.

He was challenged by security staff and police were called on several occasions and warned the defendant about his behaviour.

On January 28, the court heard, Persechino waited for the victim to finish work and followed her to a cafe in Kingston town centre.

He approached her and said “Alright darling, I want to tell you tell you that I love you”, the court heard.

Miss Hill said Persechino was finally arrested on January 29 and told officers he was in love with the victim and wanted to ask her out.

Mike Marlow, representing Persechino, said his client had been smoking cannabis and not taking his medication for schizophrenia at the time.

He said: “This is not, by any means, the worst case of stalking you will see.

“This is clearly a man who was a little bit infatuated and the woman seems to have been fairly robust.”

Mr Marlow said Persechino had lost his job as a street cleaner in Kingston as a result of the proceedings and had learned his lesson.

Magistrates also ordered a restraining order against Persechino, forbidding him from contacting the victim or visiting the theatre until further notice.

David Fletcher, executive director of the Rose Theatre, said: “We insist that all our staff have the ability to work free from harassment and we have very much welcomed and appreciated the support the police have given to the theatre and individuals involved throughout.

“We are pleased that this case has been brought to a conclusion.”