A "terrifying" stalker - who followed a blind politician with a banner accusing him of being a thief - has been handed a restraining order.

Judge Catherine Brown ordered homeless Paul Porteus to stay 10 meters from Labourite Paul Todd's Canterbury home following a bizarre hate campaign.

Porteus cycled around the city with a sign emblazoned "Paul Todd is a thief" on occasions between January and March.

He swooped at glaucoma and cataracts sufferer Mr Todd numerous times, barking insults like "fat thief", a court heard.

Porteus was jailed for 12 weeks, which he has already served, and Mr Todd, an aspiring Canterbury City councillor, requested the restraining order.

Judge Catherine Brown today told Porteus: "Having heard you with your current attitude I’m satisfied it’s appropriate for me to make a restraining order, that will last five years."

She explained it will be a criminal offence for him to contact Mr Todd or attend his workplace, the Catching Lives homeless charity in Station Road East.

Being within 10 meters of the premises’ front door or the door to Mr Todd’s home would also be a criminal offence.

The judge told Porteus: "If you breach the terms of that order it will in itself be an offence."

Previously, a jury unanimously acquitted Porteus of stalking with intent to cause fear, but found him guilty of stalking, a lesser charge.

The trial heard Porteus smashed seven windows of the office of homeless charity Catching Lives, where Mr Todd worked.

The aspiring politician said he was terrified for his family and shelved his Canterbury City Council election campaign.

Porteus accused the Labour party member of stealing £1,000 from him while using the charity’s services in October.

"I wouldn't hear him coming, I wouldn't see him coming - it wasn't very pleasant" - Paul Todd

But when Mr Todd denied the allegation, Porteus caused £1,500 worth of damage to the charity’s base before embarking on months of torment.

Mr Todd became so terrified on one occasion he asked a stranger to help rush him to a friend’s home.

But Porteus traced his victim to the Nunnery Road address and picketed with the sign emblazoned "Paul Todd is a thief".

Porteus was arrested outside the property on day two of his banner-campaign, and was found to be carrying a knife.

Mr Todd told Canterbury Crown Court during a trial he closed his curtains when at home and made his children walk ahead while outside.

He added: "I wouldn’t hear him coming, I wouldn’t see him coming - it wasn’t very pleasant.

"I would lock all the doors and windows and shut the curtains even in the day - I was extremely frightened by his behaviour.

"I was extremely frightened he would find out about my family.

"I didn’t tend to go anywhere on my own. I suspended my election campaign for 10 days because I feared for my campaigners' safety."

To read more of our in depth coverage of all of the major trials coming out of crown and magistrates' courts across the county, click here

For information on how we can report on court proceedings, click here

Read more: All the latest news from Canterbury