Spears' lawyers said Mr Shizawa had a"pattern of harassment"

Spears won a restraining order to keep Masahiko Shizawa, 41, a distance of at least 300 yards (274 metres).

Despite sending hundreds of letters and photos to her home, he denied stalking her and said he was just an avid fan.

But Superior Court Judge Alan Haber said there was an "obvious pattern of harassment and emotional harm done".

Spears, 21, sought a restraining order against the man in December 2002, saying he tried to contact her at two of her homes and that of her parents.

He also allegedly sent photos of himself and notes saying "I'm chasing you".

'In love'

Mr Shizawa returned to Japan when his visa expired in December but wanted to resolve the issue so he could eventually return to the United States.

His lawyer had argued that Mr Shizawa, a computer programmer and inventor, was harmless and the confusion arose from a cultural misunderstanding.

Simon Robert Hiller said his client was a law-abiding citizen but was "in love" with Spears.

Meanwhile, the wife of the governor of Maryland, Kendel Ehrlich, has said her comments about wanting to shoot pop star Spears were an "inadvertent figure of speech".

Shooting comment

Mrs Ehrilch, wife of governor Robert Ehrlich, had been speaking at a conference on domestic violence when she spoke of the negative image she felt Spears put across in her raunchy act.

Encouraging children to stay on at school, she said: "It is incredibly important to get that message to young women. You know, really, if I had an opportunity to shoot Britney Spears, I think I would."

She added: "Oh my goodness, what would I do if I had a daughter who is seeing these images and having peer pressure?"

Spears' label Jive Records said: "Since this unfortunate comment was made at a domestic violence prevention conference, it seems that Mrs Ehrlich has shot her own self in the foot by promoting violence."