A neighbour who stalked a man had placed microphones on a wall to listen to him in his flat, a court has heard.

Andrew Jackson, 50, of Llys Colwyn, Old Colwyn, had waged a campaign of harassment during which the victim suspected he was being spied on, magistrates at Llandudno were told.

James Neary, prosecuting, said the neighbours lived in housing association properties.

But the target of Jackson’s “obsession,” Crispin Grundry, in his mid 40s, was forced to leave his home “because of the defendant’s behaviour towards him.”

Jackson pleaded guilty to stalking between February 2016 and last August. He insisted he would appeal after receiving an 18 weeks suspended jail term and being ordered to do 250 hours unpaid work and a rehabilitation activity.

The defendant must also pay £600 compensation and £85 costs. A restraining order was made to last indefinitely and his monitoring equipment must be forfeited.

Court chairwoman Sandra Ogden Jones told Jackson: ”This has been a long and sustained period of stalking and the effect on your victim has been intolerable. You have caused misery.”

Mr Neary said Jackson at first came across as “friendly and well-educated” when Mr Grundry moved in. But by the end of 2015 the victim had concerns when it appeared someone had been in his flat.

The victim was a keen artist but Jackson wrote “malicious” posts about him on the internet. He also had a mannequin, kept in a cupboard, and had no idea how Jackson knew about it.

Mr Neary said Mr Grundry feared his flat was being bugged, and Jackson followed him around the village and insulted the victim. There was also the playing of loud music and derogatory social media posts by the defendant.

Mr Grundry felt like he was on an episode of “Big Brother.” Mr Neary declared :”It’s had a significant impact on the victim in this case.”

The prosecutor said a man of “impeccable” character had been falsely accused of being a criminal by Jackson who had been before the court previously for malicious communications.

Simon Sargent, defending, said Jackson, on benefit, was socially isolated and had a number of “issues.” The lawyer said Jackson’s problems made him “somewhat hypersensitive to certain situations.”

Mr Sargent remarked: ”With the background of Mr Jackson’s mental health problems and his paranoia, he did become somewhat obsessive and suspicious of the complainant.”

The solicitor added: ”He accepts his behaviour was unacceptable.”