A motorbike-riding stalker targeted a total stranger and followed her home from work.

Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard that a week later the victim saw the same biker riding up and down outside her place of work looking in through the windows as he passed.

The court was told Oliver Taylor, who could offer no explanation for his behaviour, was subject to a suspended prison sentence imposed just three weeks earlier for harassment of a different victim.

Taylor, 20, of Manchester Road, Haslingden, pleaded guilty to stalking and, on a separate occasion, possession of a knife in a public place.

He was sentenced to six weeks for the stalking offence and a further three weeks of the suspended sentence were activated.

District Judge Alexandra Preston said the victim of the stalking had been distressed by the defendant’s behaviour.

“She didn’t know you,” said District Judge Preston.

“It is not right to follow a female home and is obviously going to make her scared and uncomfortable.”

Victoria Forrest, prosecuting, said the victim had a regular routine of catching a taxi from her place of work in Haslingden to her home in Stacksteads.

While she was waiting at the taxi rank she saw a motorbike drive past three times in the space of 15 minutes before parking across the road.

The stalking took place between June 4 and 13.

“When she got in the taxi the motorbike set off in front of her and the rider appeared to be looking back,” said Miss Forrest.

“The taxi driver made a comment about the rider’s behaviour being slightly weird.”

Miss Forrest said as a result of her concerns the victim asked the taxi driver not to take her to her home so the bike rider was not aware of where she lived.

“Just over a week later she became aware of the same biker riding past her workplace,” said Miss Forrest.

“Between 11am and 1pm he drove past nine times.

“She and a colleague both noticed the defendant was looking in as he drove past.”

The knife offence arose after Taylor went to the police station and used the yellow telephone to call the police. He told them he had a knife and was considering self-harm.

When police arrived he identified himself and told them he had a knife in his top pocket.

He complied with a request to put his hands behind his back while he was handcuffed before officers recovered the knife.

Mark Williams, mitigating, said his client was only just 20 years old and until the previous conviction, three weeks earlier, had never been in court before.

“He is now looking at a custodial sentence,” said Mr Williams.

He said the behaviour in the stalking offence was bizarre.

“I have asked him why but there is no reason I can establish from talking to him,” said Mr Williams.

“He doesn’t know the victim but for some reason, he has fixated on this lady.”

He said Taylor had learning difficulties and had attended a special school.

Mr Williams said the knife offence occurred after his client became “worked up” because he wasn’t being allowed to see his child.

He considered self-harm but then went to the police station and reported himself for having a knife.

“Again that is strange behaviour,” said Mr Williams.