by Joe Walker

A disturbed woman who terrorised her ex-teacher for eight years has been back before the courts again.

It took Sarah Durling just 10 days to breach a restraining order banning her from contacting Alison Skinner.

A court slapped the order on 24-year-old Durling last month after she admitted a campaign of harassment against Miss Skinner, who she befriended while a pupil at Canterbury's Orchard School.

During the eight-year ordeal she bombarded Miss Skinner with letters, phone calls and text messages, saying she wanted to be her daughter and even pretending a baby had died to make contact.

But within days of being sentenced on March 3 Durling, of Fallowfield, Sittingbourne, was leaving voicemails at Miss Skinner's workplace - Connexions in Canterbury.

In the first of two on March 13 she said: "There's no point getting me sentenced because where I'll be no cop will find me. You promised me you'd never turn your back on me Ali."

She was arrested on March 16 and admitted making the calls, saying she knew she would get in trouble but did it anyway.

She was bailed to appear in court, but continued the harassment.

She sent various text messages to Connexions signed with the name of a man she had pretended was her boyfriend.

One text even claimed to be from Sittingbourne Memorial Hospital, asking staff to meet Durling.

In another she said calling the police would not stop her contacting Miss Skinner.

She was arrested on April 4 and admitted she had sent all the messages and a letter.

The EastEnders fanatic, who has Asperger's Syndrome and learning difficulties, said she knew she had a restraining order but ignored it because she wanted to.

She appeared before Canterbury magistrates on Thursday, May 21, and admitted harassment.

Scott Nielson, defending, said: "She thought she [Miss Skinner] would be her friend for life and she's never been able to get over that thought.

"The nature of the harassment wasn't threatening or sinister. It was just relentless and unwanted. This has all the hallmarks of something that isn't going to stop without some kind of intervention."

Sentencing was adjourned for psychiatric reports.