Husband, 35, who "on the face of it, has normal existence", stalked seven women including schoolgirls from his car in terrifying 90 minute rampage

A married stalker who followed seven different women, including three schoolgirls, in a 'persistent' rampage over one morning has narrowly avoided jail.

Umer Safdar, 35, was sentenced at Mishull Street Crown Court this morning following guilty pleas to one count of stalking and seven public order offences that put 'fear' and 'panic' into his seven victims.

The court heard how on November 3 of last year, Safdar followed seven different women in his car in Rochdale between the hours of 6:30am and 8am - including one 13-year old and a mother with two young children. Two of the victims, who were schoolgirls aged 15 and 16, said that Safdie had rolled down his window and asked them to get in his car.

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Prosecuting, Mr Berlyne told the court how Safdar had approached his first victim in his Volkswagen Polo at around 6:30am as she was on her way to work. She noticed his car parked on the corner of the road, and as she passed him, he tried to engage her in conversation. She walked away, but later noticed the same vehicle pulled over in front of her again, so asked Safdar if he was lost before walking away from him. When she saw him in front of her a third time, she changed her intended route to work to 'avoid him'.

Safdar was then spotted 'kerb crawling' on Norden Road with his window wound down 'staring' at his second victim. He accelerated his car to get ahead of her as she walked towards Edenfield Road and continued to stare at her. The court heard how the victim walked into a nearby Tesco until she thought Safdar had left, and then continued her journey before noticing him again when he pulled over next to her. She then knocked on the door