An obsessed stalker who terrorised a leading psychiatrist and his fiancée for a year, falsely accusing him of rape, was warned today that she faces a lengthy jail sentence.

Maria Marchese, 45, hounded Dr Jan Falkowski, 45, with sick text messages, e-mails and phone messages. She claimed to have put a bomb on a powerboat that he was due to be racing and threatened his bride to be that she would be "burnt down in her wedding dress".

Marchese, of Bow, East London, rummaged through Dr Falkowski’s dustbins to steal his used condoms for the DNA evidence she needed to help her prove the false charge of rape, Southwark Crown Court heard.

Dr Falkowski, 45, a record-breaking power boat racer, was cleared before the trial began but Marchese destroyed his reputation and his relationship with his fiancée Deborah Pemberton.

She sent text messages that read "Dig your own grave" and "Your life will end, gunman paid"; others declared undying love for the doctor.

Marchese, who is Argentinian born, was convicted of two counts of harassment, one of making threats to kill against Ms Pemberton and one of perverting the course of justice between October 2002 and September 2005.

Judge John Price remanded her in custody until September 22 while reports are prepared.

Marchese, a cheese counter assistant at Selfridges, had met the doctor in early 2002 while he was treating her partner George Attard at St Clements Hospital in Bow.

She began calling the clinic in October 2002 under the pretext that Dr Falkowski’s car was blocking space in the car park and soon scores of messages were being sent direct to his mobile.

Marchese broke into his yacht and had his wedding cancelled by claiming she had poisoned the food at the reception.

Dr Falkowski’s relationship with Ms Pemberton collapsed under the strain and he started seeing PR girl Bethan Ansell.

Then in August 2004 he was suspended by his hospital Trust after Marchese wrote to tell board members that he had raped her in his office.

In December 2004 he was told semen containing traces of his DNA had been found in Marchese’s knickers and that the case against him would proceed.

Dr Falkowski told the court: "Marchese went through my bins in September or October 2003 and fished out a contraceptive that I had used during sex with Bethan Ansell.

"She must have emptied the contents into her knickers then in 2004 made the allegation that I had raped her in 2002."

He added: "I never realised that someone so evil could go to such concerted efforts to ruin my life, Deborah Pemberton’s life and the lives of our families.

"I never dreamt someone would steal used condoms from my garbage."

Ms Pemberton, who has moved abroad since her ordeal, told the court the campaign led her to the verge of suicide.

She received up to ten phone calls a day, some silent but others "abusive, vulgar and threatening".

"This was a living hell. If you know your enemy you can do something about it, but I was utterly helpless," she recalled.

"Not only has she taken a tenth of my life away, I have also had another two years to wait for justice."

Marchese’s "prolonged and malicious" campaign intensified in the lead up to Dr Falkowski and Ms Pemberton’s wedding planned for September 6, 2003.

Ms Pemberton was told an SAS gunman would kill her on the day.

Another read: "Bang, bang, bang, that’s all you deserve. F***ing Deborah tart, your last days are counted up."

After the verdict Dr Falkowski said in a statement: "On behalf of myself, my family and friends I am relieved that our four-year nightmare is finally over and that we can now begin to look to the future.

"The jury’s verdict today has finally convicted my stalker proving the Harassment Act put in place to allow the prosecution of these people is working.

"I hope that the attention this case gets ensures all UK police forces have a greater understanding of how to build cases against stalkers that lead to convictions and also that victims are taken seriously.

"The verdict also exonerates me of any wrongdoing as it is now publicly apparent that the earlier prosecution against me was plainly false and should never have been brought.

"While we feel that justice has been done this case has highlighted some issues. Both myself and those close to me have not only been victim of Marchese’s vicious false allegations and protracted campaign, but have also been the victim of failures in the legal system."

He said that he wanted answers to many questions surrounding the false rape charge, including why the prosecution withheld or delayed disclosing vital evidence.

Outside court Detective Sergeant Malcolm Davies of the Crime Squad in Tower Hamlets, said it was one of the worst cases he had dealt with.

"Dr Falkowski and Ms Pemberton suffered many months at the hands of Marchese as she carried out a complex and continued campaign of harassment.

"Marchese was extremely skilled at avoiding detection and initially went to great lengths to cover her tracks. When she was eventually identified she went on to make a false allegation of rape against Dr Falkowski and even falsified DNA evidence to support her claim."

He added: "Despite her many efforts to ruin reputations and lives Marchese has finally been bought to justice and we can only hope this provides some relief to Mr Falkowski, his former partner Ms Pemberton and their friends and family who were caught up in the harassment."

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