An obsessed murderer left a nurse terrified after climbing through her bedroom window and telling her he wanted to "lick her all over".
Mark Towell had been released from prison a month earlier after being convicted of murder in 2002 and was on life licence when he entered the woman's home on September 11, last year.
When still a teen, Towell had lived across the street from the woman in Birtley and had "developed an obsession" with her while incarcerated.
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The nurse, who is in her 50s and a single mother, was terrified of being sexually assaulted or killed during the incident, a court heard.
Towell, 46, appeared at Durham Crown Court on Tuesday to be sentenced for affray. He pleaded guilty to the charge on Monday, when his trial was due to begin.
Chris Baker, prosecuting, said the woman was asleep in bed when she was awoken at around 4am and saw a "shadow" at her curtains.
Towell, who was drunk, was attempting to enter her bedroom after climbing onto the roof of the home, where she'd lived for around 30 years.
The court heard that Towell had lived across the road from the woman when he was young, prior to his murder conviction.
The woman had known Towell in passing when he was a teenager, but had "never had a conversation with him" - but she did know he had been sent to prison for murder.
He had been released in August, but had "developed an obsession" with the woman while serving his lengthy sentence.
Mr Baker said the woman "pressed a panic alarm" and ran downstairs to call the police, but when she returned to her bedroom, Towell was on her floor.
"She screamed and ran into the bathroom, but she was followed by the defendant", he said.
Towell grabbed the woman by both arms and a "scuffle" broke out as he attempted to stop her calling the police.
Hair was torn out of her head during the scuffle, leading the woman to believe she was going to be "raped or murdered".
The woman was so frightened as Towell made "various sexual remarks" and said she was "f****** lovely", the court heard.
Towell "refused to go" and the woman suggested they sit in the lounge in an effort to "keep him calm".
Mr Baker said Towell told the woman he "just wanted to talk to her", and said he had a "crush on her from years ago" and was asking for a relationship.
Towell even said he wanted to "lick her all over" while he was "gesturing doing that".
The court heard that Towell knew the woman was in a relationship and said he would "kill him if he ever hurt her".
Mr Baker said that when in prison, Towell had also written a letter to the woman, which left her "flabbergasted" and "uncomfortable".
He said Towell's infatuation began when he saw the woman "wearing a bikini" in her garden when he was around 16-years-old.
When police arrived, Towell admitted he had "done the wrong thing" and said the incident was "down to emotions".
He denied any sexual intentions.
In a victim statement, the woman said the incident left her "incredibly traumatised" and that it had "destroyed her life".
The court heard Towell, of Selkirk Crescent, Birtley, had previous convictions, the most serious of which was his conviction on July 18, 2002 for murdering Arthur Leak.
Towell had poured five litres of petrol over Mr Leak, before setting him alight in September 2001.
Mr Leak, also known as Lenny, suffered 80% burns to his body and bruising to his head where Towell had punched him.
The 49-year-old care assistant died in the back yard of a derelict house in Jane Eyre Terrace, Felling, Gateshead.
Lorraine Mustard, defending, said Towell had "undoubtedly caused extreme fear" and that it was "every woman's nightmare".
She said he "accepted he scared her", but he apologised for that and asked the judge to give him credit for his guilty plea and to keep the sentence "as short as possible".
Judge Ray Singh said Towell "poses a significant risk to the public" and jailed him for 30 months.
A restraining order was also imposed.
