A divorcee warned not to contact her ex-husband responded to threats of police action by saying: “Bring it on - it would make my year to be investigated.”

Carol Webster bombarded her former partner of 20 years with “disconcerting” emails during a campaign of harassment lasting more than four months.

The 56-year-old was told to stop contacting Timothy Webster but continued to do so, even after being visited by police.

In one email sent to his workplace after the warning from officers, she wrote: “I am ignoring that advice, report this email, I look forward to it.”

Webster, of Dick Street, Elham, was eventually charged with harassment without violence and admitted the offence when she appeared before Folkestone magistrates.

Prosecutor Julie Farbrace told the court the former couple had been together for 22 years and married for 20.

“She is now his ex-wife and they have two children together and are divorced,” she explained.

“She kept her work pension and the family home and he kept full ownership of his pension, and that should have been the end of the matter.

“However, she started sending him large amounts of emails which were sent to an inappropriate email (his work email), as he has, shall we say, a sensitive occupation and the emails were disconcerting.”

Support worker Webster sent emails between May 27 and October 6 last year.

Ms Farbrace said Mr Webster wanted the messages to stop so contacted police in the hope it would bring the correspondence to an end.

However, within hours of officers visiting Webster she emailed him again.

The prosecutor added: “She sent one which said ‘bring it on, it would make my year to be investigated’, and said she would not be listening to the advice of the police.

“He then got another one which said ‘the police officer spoke to me, but I am ignoring that advice, report this email, I look forward to it’.

“He then called the police again and they started to investigate further. [Officers] tried to resolve matters out of court if possible and she made admissions and there was the potential of a caution.

“But she wanted to be charged and continued to send messages until there was no choice other than court.

“There had been a number of warnings, but she sent at least two other emails.”

Defending, Hugh Roberts, told the court Webster should have accepted the caution and had been going through a difficult time and had experienced some health issues.

He also said someone had been impersonating her online and had purchased a caravan in her name. A profile on a dating website was also set up in her name, but with a photo of another person.

He added: “Someone has also changed her electricity supplier and she’s got a lot of problems. I’ve given her advice about that.

“She is working as a support worker and there have been no further issues.”

District Judge Justin Barron said it was clear Webster had suffered some sort of breakdown and experienced personal difficulties.

Because she had no previous convictions, he was prepared to place her on an 18-month conditional discharge.

He was told Mr Webster did not wish for a restraining order to be made against his former wife.