A MAN has appeared in court after admitting stalking a Dorset beauty queen.

Johnathan Jay Deal, of Queens Park Gardens, Bournemouth, appeared at Poole Magistrates' Court yesterday.

The 39-year-old, who appeared before magistrates to be sentenced, had already admitted stalking Samantha Bumford without fear, alarm or distress, at an earlier court hearing.

Magistrates were told that between August 31 and September 10, last year, Deal had "pursued a course of conduct which amounted to the stalking of Samantha Bumford and which he knew or ought to have known amounted to the harassment of her."

He sent her numerous Facebook messages, tried to forcibly kiss her when it was unwanted, and turned up at her work uninvited, the court also heard.

However, Friday afternoon's hearing was adjourned, because of a paperwork issue, to allow the victim – who had been waiting in the courthouse – to read her latest victim impact statement to magistrates before they passed sentence.

Deal has been ordered to re-attend Poole Magistrates' Court on February 18.

Samantha, a former pupil of Springdale First, Broadstone Middle and Bournemouth Collegiate schools, contested the Miss England title in September last year.

At that time she held the titles of Miss Poole and Miss England Social Media.