Walter Kershaw, world renowned artist who stalked life model, given restraining order Walter Kershaw, 73, from Littleborough, fell for Catherine Mitchell, 42 The 'original Banksy' began affair with Miss Mitchell after painting her nude But he would not accept the relationship was over and began following her Bury Magistrates' Court heard he pursued her through supermarket aisles Kershaw would also pester his former lover's mother, Marjorie Mitchell, 69 The artist admitted harassment and was given two-year restraining order Kershaw must pay both women £250 and cannot display paintings of them Artist Walter Kershaw, 73, was convicted of harassment at Bury Magistrates Court and ordered to keep away from his ex-lover Catherine Mitchell, 42, and her mother A street artist dubbed 'Britain's original Banksy' who stalked one of his life models after he became infatuated with her has been ordered by a court to keep away from her. Walter Kershaw, 73, who has appeared on BBC TV and radio shows, fell in love with Catherine Mitchell, 42, after they began a 12-month affair when she asked him to paint her portrait. But when the affair ended he stalked her for four years, and yesterday Kershaw, from Littleborough, Rochdale, was given a restraining order banning him from contacting Miss Mitchell or her mother for two years after he admitted harassment at Bury Magistrates' Court. The court heard how twice-married Kershaw would pursue his ex-lover around their hometown, waiting outside a church and following her around the aisles of a supermarket telling her she was beautiful. He sent her love letters and romantic cards, would drive slowly passed her home blowing kisses at her, and even put a portrait of Miss Mitchell in the front window of his art gallery in Littleborough. He also pestered her 69-year-old mother, Marjorie Mitchell, by turning up at her house and asking about her daughter. Miss Mitchell would take taxis to avoid Kershaw, the court heard, and even trudged across muddy fields at the back of her home so she would not encounter him outside her home. Police eventually arrested Kershaw - whose graffiti art in the 1970s earned him interviews with TV presenters including Anna Ford, Janet Street Porter, Sue McGregor and the late Russell Harty - after Miss Mitchell complained about his obsession with her. Kershaw later told police he was merely acting according to the expression 'You should never give up on love.' Kershaw had shot to fame in the 1970s with his large-scale murals on houses was dubbed 'the Original Banksy' with his work displayed as far afield as Sao Paolo in Brazil. The court heard he met Miss Mitchell when she asked for the portrait in 2006 and they began a relationship, but she said he was "quite unpredictable," 'very controlling' and had "temper tantrums." The following year she broke up with Kershaw after she was hit by a motorbike and suffered life-threatening brain and leg injuries in a collision outside his gallery. Kershaw's gallery in Littleborough, near Rochdale - the court heard he put his victim's portrait in the window Prosecutor Andrew Hey said: 'The defendant did not have any contact with her during the recuperations. She was happy about this and thought he would move on but he did begin to drive past her house on a regular basis. He would also blow kisses as he drove past slowly. She also says he would wait at the end of the street as they were entering church each Sunday and they would bump into each other in the supermarket. He would follow her around the aisles and say she looked beautiful. As a result of this contact she thought he was deliberately following her. She then moved out of her mother's address and he attended her new address.' Police issued Miss Mitchell with a hand-held panic alarm and she used it when he turned up outside the house. But Mr Hey said: 'He placed a head and shoulders portrait of Ms Mitchell in his shop window which she had not requested or seen. The harassment persisted despite several warnings and this summer the artist approached his ex-lover again, getting out of his car and grabbing her arm, the court heard. Miss Mitchell managed to escape and drive away in a friend's car. Kershaw met Miss Mitchell after she asked him to paint her - this picture, not of her, is on display in his gallery Kershaw is celebrated for his distinctive murals like this, The Inside Out House, painted in Rochdale in 1976 The court was told that Miss Mitchell, a former art school student, had approached Kershaw requesting a nude portrait. He fell for her, sent her cards and letters, and later felt guilty about the accident she suffered. But in a statement, Miss Mitchell said Kershaw 'frightened her' and she believed he was "capable of anything." She added: 'He has no respect for authority. He has been warned by the police on several occasions but this has not stopped him. I worry for my own safety. I want him to stop so I can live my life in peace. Her mother said: 'We have taken taxis to avoid him, plodded across muddy fields and dodged aisle to aisle in the supermarket. I would describe him as a narcissistic individual who tries to oil himself in with people. We have taken taxis to avoid him, plodded across muddy fields, and dodged aisle to aisle in the supermarket. Marjorie Mitchell, 69, Catherine Mitchell's mother The father of two eventually admitted harassment and was given a restraining order banning him from contacting Miss Mitchell and her mother for two years, and ordered to pay them £250 each in compensation. He was also banned from displaying a photo, painting, sketch drawing or any image of either victim. Kershaw was also given a 12-month community order. His lawyer, Paul Kidd, said: 'He is an artist of some renown - nationally and internationally. He paints for a living. Walter is a gentleman who has tried to do the best for all concerned. 'This was a relationship he felt was carrying on and she felt it wasn't. He has pursued it when he shouldn't have and he apologises to both for any distress caused. There are three large oil paintings of Miss Mitchell. He is prepared to give them to her if she wants them. If she doesn't want them he will keep them and not offer them for sale and will not display them.' District judge Mark Hadfield told Kershaw: 'You were engaged in contact which amounts to stalking over a period of four years. That's a lengthy period of time and I take the view Miss Mitchell was a vulnerable victim. After the hearing, Kershaw said: 'I would never harm any woman and I do sincerely apologise. 'The main thing I would like to emphasise is I don't want Marjorie and Catherine to ever be upset as I would never ever harm them.' Breath-taking style: A mural painting on wall at Trafford Park, Old Trafford in Manchester by Walter Kershaw