Barry George, the man accused of murdering TV presenter Jill Dando, took thousands of photographs of women as he stalked females for years before the celebrity's death, the Old Bailey heard.

Barry George, the man accused of murdering TV presenter Jill Dando, took thousands of photographs of women as he stalked females for years before the celebrity's death, the Old Bailey heard.

He spent a great deal of his time watching and following women - sometimes asking them out on dates, according to the prosecution.

Jonathan Laidlaw, QC, said 4,000 undeveloped photographs had been found at his flat in Crookham Road, Fulham.

These included pictures of TV presenters Anthea Turner, Caron Keating, Emma Freud and Fiona Foster photographed from his television.

He said: "The photographs demonstrate that he was in the habit of photographing women at times when they were unaware that he was watching and, on occasion, following them.

"On many occasions he approached those he had been watching and attempted to engage them in conversation and to arrange to meet them again.

"Even when it was clear that his attention was unwelcome the defendant would persist.

"The defendant was interested to discover where those he observed or spoke to, were living."

Since his arrest, a number of women had come forward to tell police about these incidents.

The alleged incidents included: :: In 1985, Angela Gordon said she was approached as she arrived home late at night. He asked her if she lived there and said he was in the SAS. He asked if he could kiss her before she was able to get inside her flat. A photograph of her car was found at George's flat.

:: In 1993, George was said to follow Amanda Scriven home on his bicycle. Once he held a camera close to her face and took pictures.

:: Around a year later, Claudia Casey was approached by a man who grabbed her arm when she refused to talk to him. She was so scared that she jumped into a passing car to get away.