Violin star Vanessa Mae told of her terror last night after a stalker who has pestered her for more than ten years was released from prison.

Police warned David Martin was certain to break a ban on contacting the classical music sensation - and they were powerless to stop him.

Martin, 57, was yesterday jailed for three months for the "flagrant breach" of a restraining order but walked free as he has served the sentence on remand.

District judge Justin Phillips said he was imposing the maximum term and warned Martin he faced five years in prison if he broke a new lifetime ban on contacting the star.

He said: "When you are released, you get out of London and you stay out of London."

Martin, formerly of Western Road, Brighton, and now living in a camper van in Worthing, became obsessed with Vanessa in 1993 and went on to bombard her with letters saying he loved her and wanted to marry her.

The unemployed hospital engineer kept a diary of the 25-year-old musician's movements and followed her when she took her dog for a walk.

He was first arrested on October 17 last year, carrying a lock knife outside one of her homes.

An indefinite restraining order was imposed on Christmas Eve banning him from two west London streets after he admitted harassment.

He was arrested again in February after Mae's boyfriend, Lionel Catalan, 31, spotted him in a street near her Kensington home.

He was held in custody until July when he was found guilty of breaking the order after a trial.

Martin showed no emotion as the sentence was delivered at West London Magistrates' Court.

Outside court PC David Cahill, who led the investigation, said: "The problem with Mr Martin is he doesn't appreciate what he is doing is wrong. No doubt he will breach the new restraining order which bans him from London."

He said Miss Mae would be happy with the new order but added: "She's obviously still scared.

"The harassment has been going on for ten years and has gradually been building up.

"It started with letters and ended with him going to her street and posting letters to her home."

The violinist has rarely spoken in public about her ordeal but last night revealed her fears following Martin's release.

She said: "I have been comforted by the fact the police have taken this case seriously but it is worrying he is now back out.

"Considering he has breached previous restraining orders, I can only hope he starts to respect the law and my privacy from here on."

Earlier this year she was left constantly on edge because of Martin's behaviour.

She said then: "I met him on one of my UK tours. He was like a groupie and I made the mistake of recognising him. I said something like 'Oh weren't you at one of my last shows'. And that was it."

He went on to send Vanessa dozens of letters saying he loved her and wanted to marry her.

In a recent interview she said: "I'm shocked this man didn't take the court order seriously and is happy to risk going to prison."

Miss Mae, real name Vanessa Mae Vanakorn, shot to fame while still a teenager with her fusion of classical and rock music.

She has earned £35 million after selling more than seven million albums worldwide.