Former deputy mayor, 70, who married and divorced the same woman

A pensioner who married and divorced the same woman three times has now been convicted of harassing her.

Bill Daws, 70, pestered Shirley Towler by leaving her begging notes, turning up at her home unannounced and following her.

The former deputy mayor of King's Lynn in Norfolk in 2008 and 2009, was reported to police and charged with harassment.

The ex-Royal Navy sailor was given an 18-month conditional discharge after a court heard he did not consider he was harassing Ms Towler because he knew her so well.

Norfolk magistrates were told how the couple first met in 1994 before going on to marry and separate three times.

Their tempestuous relationship finally ended for good and there had been no contact between the pair since last July.

But the court last Friday heard that Daws tried to contact his ex-wife to let her know that a mutual friend had died.

Persistent Daws went into a doctors surgery to speak to her after seeing her car parked outside and left notes asking after her health and well being.

  Irritated Ms Towler told him she did not want any contact but he did not seem to get the message.



The former deputy mayor of King's Lynn, Norfolk, continued to pester his former wife, even though she told him to stop

Police were called to reinforce her wishes and Daws was served with a notice telling him to refrain from contacting her.

But prosecutor Josephine Jones said he continued turning up at her home in Middleton, Norfolk, despite the warning.

Defending, Neil Meachem said Daws had no previous convictions and had not thought he was doing anything wrong in approaching his ex-wife to tell her about a friend's death.

Daws admitted harassment between February 1 and March 21 was also ordered to pay £100 costs.The Crown Prosecution Service says that although harassment is not specifically defined it can include repeated attempts to impose unwanted communications and contacts upon a victim in a manner that could be expected to cause distress or fear in any reasonable person