Amber Candy Flowers, 64, received a 60 day suspended sentence and a restraining order

A cross-dressing neighbour subjected a woman to a six-month campaign of abuse which left her with mental health issues.

Amber Candy Flowers, 64, who is biologically a man but dresses in women's clothes, harassed Linda Burns over the course of six months.

Flowers blasted loud music and shouted threats through the walls of his flat in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, between February and September this year.

On one occasion Flowers screamed: 'You are an evil woman'.

The ordeal left Ms Burns too scared to leave her home and was left crying and shaking on the floor of her flat on more than one occasion.

Flowers, born Timothy Ormandy, defied police warnings and an order against her, landing Flowers in custody in a men's prison for nine days last month.

Flowers was supposed to go on trial before pleading guilty at the eleventh hour.

Appearing at South Cumbria Magistrates' Court Flowers was spared jail, receiving a 60 day suspended sentence and a restraining order.

Prosecutor Peter Kelly told the court: 'Since the beginning of this year things have become difficult.

'The defendant plays loud music at all times of the day, shouts abuse directed at [the victim] and it has become more frequent.

'The actions of the defendant has led to a significant deterioration in her mental health.'

Appearing at South Cumbria Magistrates' Court Flowers was spared jail, receiving a 60 day suspended sentence and a restraining order

In a victim impact statement read out in court Mrs Burns said: 'I didn't leave the house if I knew Amber was in. I feel safer at work.

'I just want to live in peace. I've sat on the floor crying and shaking; I've done nothing to deserve this. I don't feel safe in my own home.'

Defence solicitor David Mannering said his client realised the behaviour was unacceptable.

As well as a suspended sentence and restraining order Flowers must complete a rehabilitation programme, pay £250 costs and a £115 surcharge.