A lecturer has appeared in court accused of a campaign of harassment involving a former student.

Robert Power, 38, is said to have repeatedly called and sent unwanted messages to the woman between August and October 2022. 

Norwich Magistrates’ Court was told she had first met him when he was her lecturer and that they had begun a relationship but it had broken down. 

Rima Begum, prosecuting, said it was alleged that she had begun receiving a stream of unwanted messages, phone calls and social media posts.

It is also alleged he sent a letter to her parents and contacted her employers before he was arrested in November 2022.

Power, from Postwick, on the outskirts of Norwich, pleaded not guilty to causing serious alarm and distress through harassment and stalking.

Deputy District Judge Jacqui Appleton denied an application for the case to be heard before magistrates because "if convicted, in my view, the sentence would exceed this court’s powers even allowing for mitigation”.

Power will stand trial at Norwich Crown Court with a preliminary hearing on May 14.  

Ian Fisher, for Power, said there had been no contact between the parties for 18 months.