A Swindon man accused of stalking a Cotswolds woman has been cleared by a judge after the alleged victim was declared not medically fit to testify to a jury.

Despite his acquittal at Gloucester Crown Court on Friday (March 1), however, Ross Faulkner, of Rodbourne Road, Swindon, has been ordered not to contact the woman or go to her address in South Cerney at any time in the next seven years.

Faulkner had pleaded not guilty to stalking the woman by sending her unwanted texts, letters and emails and by turning up unannounced at her address between October 5 and 19 last year.

The charge alleged that his behaviour caused the woman serious alarm or distress and had a substantial adverse effect on her usual day-to-day activities.

Charlotte Evans, prosecuting, told the court on Friday that she was offering no evidence and asking the court to enter a not guilty verdict in the 57-year-old's favour.

"The complainant is not medically fit for trial," she told Judge Rupert Lowe.

"She has had significant health issues. There have been some heart attacks and also a brain tumour and she is unable to attend the trial."

Ms Evans said the Crown had also taken the view that the allegation that the woman was caused serious alarm and distress had not been made out by the statements of evidence.

Judge Lowe asked if the woman had been asked her views about the case being dropped. Ms Evans said she did not know what the woman's opinion was but she knew that the situation would have been explained to her by a police officer involved in the case.

Sarah Jenkins, for Faulkner, said her client and the woman had been in a relationship for about two years. She asked the court to consider that a five-year restraining order would be long enough and she assured the court that Faulkner had no intention of trying to resurrect the relationship.

Judge Lowe said he considered seven years to be a more appropriate term for the restraining order.

"On balance, I am persuaded that the Crown has considered this matter properly even though I have not been told what the complainant says about it," said the judge.

"Upon the Crown offering no evidence I will enter a not guilty verdict. The defendant is therefore acquitted.

"Mr Faulkner, you must comply with the very straightforward terms of the order because not to do so would result in your arrest and probably your recall on your IPP (Imprisonment for Public Protection) order. That is like a life sentence."