A pub singer who planted a spy camera in his ex-partner’s bedroom said he did it for love.

Stephen Clarke fitted a smoke detector by the entrance to Christine Maynard’s ensuite bathroom at their home in Sandling, Maidstone.

Mrs Maynard was confused as to why it had been placed in such an odd location and on further investigation discovered it was concealing a camera.

The incident followed a period of "stalker-type behaviour" behaviour, which lasted from April until last month.

The 59-year-old followed Mrs Maynard on a holiday to Scotland, downloaded data from her phone, placed flowers in her car while she was at work, repeatedly visited her and showed up at her friend’s house with old photos.

He was eventually arrested and charged with harassment and later pleaded guilty to the offence.

At Sevenoaks Magistrates’ Court on Monday Clarke, who works as a singer songwriter with the stage name Almond Greenway and previously lived with Mrs Maynard and her family, narrowly avoided prison.

“He loved too much but not too wisely.” — Keith Middleton, defending Stephen Clarke

The court heard how the couple first had a relationship in their late teens but broke up for more than 30 years.

Clarke, who is staying in London but is planning to move to Aylesford, was reunited with Mrs Maynard eight years ago.

The pair moved in together in 2013 and jointly owned properties at Cork Street, Eccles, and then Old Chatham Road, Sandling, but Clarke lived a separate life in detached garages at both properties.

Despite this the couple continued their relationship but at Easter broke up.

Clarke reacted badly to the separation and soon learned Mrs Maynard was seeing someone else, at which point he set about trying to win her back.

Steve Mould, prosecuting, said Clarke subjected his ex-partner to a period of "stalker-type behaviour."

Paraphrasing Shakespeare, Keith Middleton, defending, said: “He loved too much but not too wisely.”

He told the court Clarke had put up with a relationship most men wouldn’t, he was never violent or abusive and his arrest had come as a huge shock.

He added, Clarke had installed the camera because he wanted to maintain a link with Mrs Maynard and not for any sexual reason. He had not obtained any images from the device.

When asked about Clarke's ability to pay financial penalties, Mr Middleton said working as an entertainer was his only source of income and last year he earned just over £5,000.

Clarke's website says he performs an eclectic mix of songs at pubs, corporate events and residential homes, with everyone from Frank Sinatra to Pharrell Williams included in his repertoire.

He once played 273 gigs in a year and in 1975 appeared on talent show Opportunity Knocks.

In June, during the period of harassment, Clarke published a video on his YouTube channel dedicated to Mrs Maynard, entitled ‘I Say You’re Beautiful’.

I Say You're Beautiful by Almond Greenway (Stephen Clarke) was published online in June with a caption dedicating the song to Mrs Maynard

His website suggests this song was written between 2005 and 2008 and is included on an album of the same name, which was released in 2010 — in total his discography includes 10 records, all of which are available on Amazon.

Magistrates told Clarke his actions passed the custody threshold but took into account his previous good character, ordering him to complete 210 hours of unpaid work and pay £85 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.

A two-year restraining order banning him from making any contact with Mrs Maynard or visiting the house he owns with her was also made.

After sentencing, Clarke addressed the court. He said: “It was for love and no other reason and I’m terribly sorry. I have already started to move forward.”