Syderstone grandmother Karen Cattle in King’s Lynn court for stalking ex-partner from Fakenham

A 69-year-old grandmother was caught by her ex-partner’s new lover peering into the windows of their house.

Karen Cattle, of Glebe Court in Syderstone, near Fakenham, appeared at Lynn Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, where she admitted stalking without provoking fear, alarm or distress.

The court heard from prosecutor Stephen Munton, who said that Cattle stalked her ex-partner, who lives in Fakenham, between the dates of May 13 and June 21.

The pair had met around Christmas time last year and started their relationship.

A couple of months later, Cattle’s partner moved into her property and they began living together.

Mr Munton told magistrates that Cattle went on holiday without her partner, and upon her return, she discovered he had moved out of her property and returned to his old home address with his ex-partner.

He and Cattle ended their relationship, but Cattle continued to message and call him continuously.

Cattle sent multiple WhatsApp messages to her ex-partner declaring her love for him.

She then began visiting the victim’s address and was witnessed peering into the windows.

On some occasions, she said that she had gone to the property to collect some items and that the victim owed her some money.

She was seen by the victim’s new partner peering through the windows and banging on them.

In mitigation, George Sorrell explained that Cattle is a retired nurse and a widow who was “in love” with the victim.

Mr Sorrell said: “It was not long after the defendant went on holiday when she discovered the man went to live with his ex. It was a very unhappy state of affairs.

“She is 69-year-old and she was taken in by a man and she had some affection for him.”

The solicitor added: “This is an ordinary lady of advanced senior years who became associated with a man - when it didn’t work out, she was deeply wounded.”

Magistrates handed Cattle a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered her to pay court costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £26.