A rejected lover who bombarded his ex with abusive messages and calls after she ended their relationship has narrowly avoided jail.

A court heard Daniel Langridge’s former girlfriend describe him as a “narcissist” after she was left distressed by his unwanted calls and messages demanding to know where she was and what she was doing.

The 31-year-old even turned up at her workplace in Whitstable to try to speak to her.

But after she told him she wanted no further contact, he continued to call and message her, despite her contacting the police about his behaviour.

Langridge, of Avon Close, Canterbury, was later charged and admitted stalking when he appeared in court in August when a pre-sentencing report was ordered.

He returned to Margate Magistrates’ Court on October 4 to be sentenced when the bench heard the couple’s relationship had ended last year.

Lucie Fish, prosecuting, said: “He was in a relationship with the woman and it was described as an on-and-off relationship and she ended it in 2023.

“He then started to bombard her with calls and they were threatening in nature and he was also monitoring her social media and would then challenge her about it and then started to abuse her.

“He also turned up at her work and she then told him she no longer wanted him to contact her and that his contact must stop - this was in November 2023.

“She then contacted the police, but on December, 7, last year he messaged her again and the police were informed. He has no previous convictions.”

The bench also heard the woman had given a victim impact statement in which she said she’d had time to reflect on their relationship and that during it he had been a “narcissist”, was desperate to find out where she was and would hound her with constant abuse.

The woman also said she had to look over her shoulder when out, especially when she was going to work as she she did not want him to talk to her.

She added Langridge was angry the relationship was over but he needed to accept that.

Gemma Adams, mitigating, said her client had made full and frank admissions but had struggled with the breakdown of his relationship.

‘He then started to bombard her with calls and they were threatening in nature…’

She added: “He now recognises his own behaviour. He has some mental health problems, he has anxiety and depression and ADHD.

“At the time he wasn’t in a good place, he wasn’t rationalising his thoughts about the change in his life.”

Chairman of the bench Dianne August told Langridge magistrates had listened to everything that had been said by the prosecution and his representative and they had also read the pre-sentencing report carried out on him.

Mrs August added: “However, we are imposing eight weeks’ custody but we will suspend the term for 12 months because of the seriousness of the offence.”

Langridge was also ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work and attend 35 rehabilitation sessions with probation.

He was also banned from contacting the woman for two years or going near her workplace or her home and ordered to pay £199 in costs and a victim surcharge.