A spurned lover hounded his ex with hundreds of abusive messages and calls after she dumped him by text.

Johnny Blackmore, of Ashford, accused her of cheating, claimed nobody else wanted her, and threatened to kill himself if she did not speak.

Even when she blocked his number, the 26-year-old set up a fresh iCloud account in a persistent bid to contact her.

So traumatising was the gardener’s behaviour, his former partner of one year needed medication from her doctor and was forced to sleep with her light on.

Blackmore admitted carrying out his campaign of harassment in Ashford between September and October last year during a June hearing at Sevenoaks Magistrates’ Court.

He returned to the same court on November 4 to learn his fate, where his lawyer argued he was oblivious his actions were illegal.

In a victim impact statement, his ex described fearing for her safety, suffering trouble sleeping and anxiety, prompting her to seek medical help.

James Nichols prosecuting, said: “He was in a relationship with the woman for a year, I believe, when she decided to end it.

“She sent him a message (to say the relationship was over) and then blocked him, but she was then inundated with hundreds of unwanted messages for him.

“Some accused her of never loving him while others were abusive, (some) said their relationship had not been great and no one would want her.

“Others then said he would kill himself - he accused her of cheating on him and looking at other men.

“She then received 50 unwanted calls, he set up another iCloud account to try and contact and communicate with her.”

Reading her victim impact statement in court, Mr Nichols said she was struggling to sleep because of the stress and anxiety he caused.

He explained how, when she did go to bed, she would have to leave the light on in case he turned up at her home.

Mr Nichols added: “She’d had to take sedatives for her anxiety and sleep issues and the stress has impacted her day-to-day life.

“His last conviction was in 2018 and the harassment went on for a three-week period.”

Andrew Main, mitigating, told the court Blackmore, of Smarden Road, did not realise he was committing an offence when he sent the messages.

The lawyer added: “He was texted by her and then blocked and that’s where it should have ended.

“But he pursued it longer than he should have done.

“There was no turning up at her home, she lives in Dorset and so did he.

“But he moved back to Kent to live and the long-distance (relationship) didn’t work.

“He is a self-employed gardener and lives with his nan.

“His ADHD might have been a factor as he may have struggled to accept the rejection.

“It’s a lesson learned for him and we talked about it.

“I said ‘when someone says no, that’s it,’ he now understands.”

Following his arrest, Blackmore was charged with harassment without violence and pleaded guilty at an early opportunity.

His hearing was adjourned for pre-sentencing reports.

Sentencing on November 4, magistrates told Blackmore his actions profoundly impacted his victim but he was now aware of the fact.

They placed him on a 12-month community order which will see him complete 80 hours of unpaid work and attend 20 rehabilitation sessions with probation, which will also see him take part in a relationship skills course.

They also banned him from contacting the woman by way of a 12-month restraining order and ordered he pay a victim surcharge of £114 as well as £85 court costs.

Mr Main said Blackmore would pay £20 a month as he was on Universal Credit and work had dried up this time of year.