A jilted man who plagued his ex-girlfriend with phone calls and messages attempted to contact her even while in prison on remand for his alarming behaviour.

Russell Henderson, who has a history of harassing former partners, tried to beat a ban on his authorised calls list from HMP Elmley on the Isle of Sheppey by giving his victim's maiden name.

Canterbury Crown Court heard the woman later described the 39-year-old's unwanted pursuit of her as "relentless", with its impact on both her personal and professional life as "just hell".

In the space of 13 days in May this year and before his arrest, he bombarded the mum with a total of 739 calls, messages and voice notes - some abusive and others pleading to rekindle their troubled relationship.

He turned up unexpectedly at a gym she was visiting in Ashford and at a birthday party she attended, pestered her to "work things out" and woke her at night banging on her door.

Prosecutor Tim Sleigh-Johnson said it was even discovered from CCTV that her former lover had been in a shed where she had previously kept a spare key to her home.

Henderson, from Canterbury, was also subject to a stalking prevention order at the time (SPO), on post-release supervision, and had numerous convictions for breaches of non-molestation and restraining orders.

He was eventually arrested and put back behind bars after a Kent Police "Wanted" appeal.

But having now served more than six months in custody awaiting sentence, a judge told Henderson last week that any community-based punishment he had originally intended would be "wrong in principle".

He therefore imposed a jail term that meant Henderson was expected to be immediately released.

The court heard the couple had been together since May 2019 but broke up two years later. Henderson, however, could not accept it was over between them and resorted to harassing her.

As a result of that conviction, he was handed a 10-year SPO, only for the pair to get back together before a second split in May this year and Henderson's stalking behaviour to resume.

"It involved the defendant sending multiple messages on Instagram, WhatsApp, and emails every day. Some were abusive, others were him begging to rekindle the relationship and threatening to harm himself if she didn't answer," the prosecutor told the court.

"He attended a gym in Ashford but didn't have any gym clothes with him and he headed straight for the victim, ranting at her about why she wouldn't accept his calls.

"She went to a birthday party in Ashford and the defendant attended unexpectedly, standing in the car park waiting.

"The victim agreed to his offer of a lift home as her phone battery had died but during the ride he pestered her to work things out, and after he had dropped her off she was woken by banging on her door and received a message from him saying 'Where the f*** are you? I heard a bloke answer the door'.

"She later discovered the defendant had been in her shed where she had kept a key but had moved it following their separation."

The court heard that between May 8 and May 18 she received 364 messages from Henderson, 25 phone calls and 39 voicemails.

In a subsequent period of three days, he persisted with a further 159 calls, 146 messages and six voice notes.

One message accusing her of "sh***y behaviour" threatened: "Answer the f***ing phone now, you sneaky, dirty **** before I come to your work or house."

The court heard that the victim later revealed to police the disturbing lengths Henderson went to following his arrest to maintain contact.

"She says that while he has been in prison she has received calls from Elmley asking whether she would accept the call and she understands the defendant had used her maiden name to get around a block on his prison phone list to try and contact her," added the prosecutor.

Detailing the impact on her generally, he continued: "She states she wants to move on with her life, which the defendant finds difficult to do and says: 'It has caused me a lot of stress because he is constantly messaging me and sending me videos.'

"(She says) 'It's all too much. I'm trying to run a business and bring up children...He is relentless...The last time was just hell and I'm not going through that again. I don't personally think Russell will hurt me but I'm having to remain vigilant in case he turns up. I just want Russell to stop and leave me alone.'"

Mr Sleigh-Johnson said Henderson's persistent behaviour was "designed to maximise distress".

He later pleaded guilty to stalking and a SPO breach. His previous convictions include earlier offences of breaching the same SPO, as well as non-molestation and restraining orders dating back to 2014 relating to another ex-partner, and a charge of harassment in respect of a third in 2011.

But appearing on video link from Elmley Prison, Henderson, of Shrimpton Close, Old Wives Lees, could be heard repeatedly saying: "I'm moving forward with my life now."

His barrister, James Burke, reiterated that sentiment and agreed his client had "used his time in custody well".

Explaining why a community order with rehabilitation requirements was now not warranted, Judge Simon Taylor KC said such a sentence would represent "additional punishment" to the 13-month equivalent jail term Henderson had already served.

However, on handing down that exact length of sentence, he warned that was "at the top end" of culpability and harm guidelines – and that "the choice" was now Henderson's to prove he had changed his ways.

"It's plain your behaviour was unacceptable, that it had a negative impact on your victim. You have heard her statement and as a 39-year-old man, Mr Henderson, perhaps the best I can do in terms of rehabilitation is to ask you to reflect on making somebody feel that way," remarked Judge Taylor.

"I have read with care all the reports on you. It is troubling. You are at a crossroads in life...But prison is meant to rehabilitate and being locked up was meant to give you time to reflect on your behaviour.

"I think it is apparent to you that sentences are only going to get longer and longer. The hope is that you have genuinely sought to rehabilitate yourself.

"More importantly, if you contact your victim in any way, I have no doubt she will get in contact with police and you will be prosecuted and face up to five years in prison.

"The court has run out of patience with you but you have served half your custodial sentence and let's hope it has taught you a lesson."

Henderson, who was made subject to five-year restraining order, replied: "I understand that totally."