AN Accrington woman was stalked by a former work colleague who she knew had a conviction for rape.

Blackburn magistrates heard Abdul Basit started by contacting her through social media and when that was blocked turned up outside her house and asked her to get into his car.

That incident lead to a police harassment warning, but on Thursday of last week the woman was driving home from work on the M62 when she realised he was following her.

Basit, 26, of Hurtley Street, Burnley, pleaded guilt to stalking involving serious alarm and distress.

He was sent in custody to Burnley Crown Court to be sentenced on November 30.

Neil White, prosecuting, said Basit got to know the victim while they were both working for the courier firm DPD.

She said he was no more than a work colleague who she would say hello to and occasionally exchange a few words with. Towards the end of last year he added her as a friend on Facebook which she didn’t find unusual because other work colleagues were also Facebook friends.

Basit was sacked after it was realised he hadn’t revealed a conviction for raping a child and sexual assault on a child under the age of 13 in April 2014.

“The victim learned of his previous conviction in March, after he had been dismissed,” said Mr White. “She Googled his name and read about his past convictions and after that blocked him.”

In May she got a long message from a new account asking her for a date. “He created a new account so he could contact her again,” said Mr White.

On October 5 she finished work and travelled home to Accrington.

“As she got out of her car someone flashed their lights at her and beeped their horn.

“She saw it was the defendant.”

Mr White added on Thursday she was driving home from work on the M62 when someone flashed their lights behind her.

“The car then passed her and she realised it was the defendant,” said Mr White.

The defendant then followed her all the way to her brother's house in Middleton.

Mr White said as soon as the aggrieved arrived at the house she ran inside and her brother confronted the defendant.