A THORNTON phone pest who terrorised women across the country was jailed for four years this week.

Alan Snell, a 40-year-old cleaner from Harrison Avenue, was sentenced at Preston Crown Court on June 25 and described as a "pathetic and inadequate" man who found it impossible to have normal relationships with women.

Snell, who has been dubbed Britain's worst-ever phone sex pest, successfully evaded the law for more than two years using six unregistered mobile phones to make at least 50,000 obscene phone calls to his random victims up and down the country.

He was finally tracked down in February 2002 following a mammoth nationwide hunt co-ordinated by Fleetwood CID.

Cleveleys hairdresser Kelly Wilkinson, 23, was in court to see her tormentor put behind bars. She said after the judgement: "I am pleased with the sentencing. He stalked me for 18 months and made my life sheer hell.

"I would say he has left me scarred for life and I am still very dubious about answering the phone."

St Annes businesswoman Wendy Pulman, who was another of Mr Snell's targets, said: "He began calling and asking questions of an obscene nature and telling me he had fallen in love with me and had a picture of myself pinned on his wall. I would say he was obsessive.

"I tried to get him to meet up with me so that the police could catch him, but he said he wouldn't as he felt that he would harm me, which really upset me. He is a horrible man and I am very glad the police have caught him."

Wendy believes the whole affair has left both her and her family severely traumatised. She said: "I am on anti-depressants and have nightmares and panic attacks. I am constantly looking at everyone and am extremely wary of men.

"I hope this man's sentence deters other sex pest callers. These people can and will be caught, even if they put 141 in front of their number to withhold it."