A 68-YEAR-OLD man told police he wanted to marry a schoolgirl he had stalked and whose name he had tattooed on his arm, a court heard.

John Rosevere was described at Bolton Crown Court as an "isolated, inadequate" man who had become infatuated with the girl in Great Lever.

Rosevere, of Nottingham Drive, Bolton, was issued with a child abduction order by police after the girl had began to find Rosevere "creepy".

She had been regularly visiting him at his home address with friends, where Rosevere would give them cigarettes, cash and alcohol.

The court was told at a sentencing hearing on May 27 how Rosevere told police he wanted to marry the girl, now aged 15, and have a sexual relationship with her when she was old enough.

When police asked him why he had the victim's name tattooed on his arm, he initially said it was the name of his niece, but he later admitted that the girl was the inspiration behind it.

The court was told how Rosevere, who pleaded guilty to stalking, continued to contact the girl even after the abduction order was made.

On August 31 he posted a get well soon card to her, signing it with 'JH', and enclosing a £5 note, four cigarettes and his mobile number.

On September 4 he shouted at her in the street while she was out with her younger brother.

The next day, while the girl was at school, the defendant walked past, looked over the fence and smiled at her, prompting the facility's manager to confront him.

Two days later he came to her house and gave her what she described as a "menacing look".

A victim impact statement from the schoolgirl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, stresses her desire to walk around the area in which she lives without being scared, as she currently looks over her shoulder "every five minutes".

Neil Fryman, defending, described Rosevere as a "loner", estranged from his family, and said the girl "meant the world to him".

Recorder Karen Brody said: "You are a man in your late 60s and the complainant was only 12 when you started to try and befriend her.

"It was a totally inappropriate relationship. You are old enough to be her grandfather.

"You had hopes of having some sort of sexual relationship with her but that was a complete delusion."

Rosevere, was sentenced to a three-year community order, during which he must attend a sex offenders' programme.

He was also made subject to a 10-year restraining order barring him from contacting under-16s.

Recorder Brody added: "You don't have much experience of adult relationships with women and are an inadequate and isolated man.

"This behaviour cannot continue."