An elderly stalker who became obsessed with her local priest and hounded him for decades, even dancing naked in his garden, has been acquitted after doctors diagnosed her obsession as a mental illness.

The court’s decision has left her priest victim, who said that her harassment had at times reduced him to tears, devastated.

A court of appeal in the town of Arnsberg in the German state of North-Rhine Westphalia said that the 79-year-old woman could not be charged, as she suffers from amorous paranoia, a psychological condition for which she cannot be held responsible.

The former psychiatric ward patient, who has not been named by the authorities, spent some months in police custody before receiving a nine-month sentence on probation two years ago.

But now judges have ruled that she was not criminally liable due to her mental condition.

The woman, who hid her face behind a red silk bonnet in court, first met clergyman Michael Hammerschmidt when she asked for pastoral care at her father’s deathbed in the year 2000. Soon afterwards, she started following the Catholic priest around.

According to information in court, her attempts to win him over included stripping naked and dancing in the garden of the rectory at St. Nikolaus Meschede-Freienohl.

She was also found to have shouted obscenities, placed phallic symbols around the building, and bombarded the priest with raunchy e-mails and text messages.

The court had asked for an expert opinion on her mental condition in the past, but several medical experts drew different conclusions.

But for the appeal, psychiatric expert Norbert Leygraf from the University of Muenster concluded that she could not be held accountable for her actions.

Leygraf said that the woman considered Hammerschmidt as her “soulmate” and was convinced the priest was in love with her too and only hid it due to his calling, as Catholic priests are forbidden from marrying or having relationships.

He added it was unlikely her focus would switch to someone else, since her condition keeps those affected totally devoted to one person.

Mr Hammerschmidt attended the trial and shook his head when the verdict was announced.

Judges expressed their sympathy for his position, adding that they saw no other possible ruling. All involved advocates, including the woman’s defence lawyer, admitted it was possible that she might continue harassing the parish priest.

The presiding judge also concluded that she could not be sent to a psychiatric clinic, as not all of the requirements to commit someone were fulfilled in her case.

Mr Hammerschmidt said afterwards: “You don’t stand a chance if you’re a victim in this country. She can cause severe harm to me for 20 years without having to face any restrictions. What she did was just disgusting.”

He added: “I made clear to her I don’t want anything to do with her. There have been times when I have just sat around and cried because I was feeling so helpless.”