A 27-year-old man has been spared jail after he sent unsolicited provocative messages to a woman on social media and tried to meet up with her while armed with an imitation firearm and a knife.

The victim first reported Suhayl Ali, of Headley Way in Oxford, at Uxbridge Police Station after she received numerous messages from him in late 2016.

She had asked him to stop on a number of occasions but Ali, who only knew the victim through social media, persisted causing the victim concern, the police said.

Ali was arrested in possession of an imitation firearm

Ali attempted to arrange a meeting with the woman, but instead officers from Hillingdon Police attended after realising the potential risk of the case.

He was arrested at the scene in December and was found in possession of a realistic imitation firearm and a knife.

Officers met with Ali instead of the victim

Ali was charged with possession of an imitation firearm in a public place, stalking without fear alarm or distress and possession of a knife in a public place.

He was sentenced the week before last at North London Magistrates' Court to a six-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months, a rehabilitation requirement, 160 hours of unpaid work, made to pay £1,000 in fines and costs and is now the subject of a restraining order.

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