A jilted boyfriend scrawled abusive messages on a cushion carrying the the face of his ex-partner and left it on her doorstep during a terrifying campaign of stalking.

John Down, 47, from Dover, reacted badly to the end of the relationship, bombarding his former girlfriend with insulting voicemails, letters and cards.

A court was told the harrowing 15-day ordeal in November of last year has now left his victim unable to sleep.

Down first started abusing the woman when he sent voicemails to her on November 6, calling her heartless and spineless.

Over the next two weeks he left other abusive phone messages, and on November 15 he put a handwritten note through her door with £20 in it for her daughter, and a hair-dryer and GHD straighteners were found on her back doorstep.

On another occasion he left a cushion the woman had previously given him with her picture on it, and had written abusive messages on the cushion with a black marker pen.

On November 18, the woman came home to find something had been placed in her letterbox and found Down had left an anniversary card which she had previously given him.

Again, he'd written insults on it with black marker pen.

There was also a smashed mug left in a bag at a side door of her home.

Down, of Anzio Crescent, Guston, Dover, was later charged with stalking and pleaded guilty to the offence when he appeared before Folkestone magistrates in September.

The case against him was adjourned for a pre-sentencing report to be carried out, and Down returned to the same court on November 2 to be sentenced.

Julie Farbrace, prosecuting, said: "On November 20 he went to her workplace and became abusive.

"The woman has had to purchase a Ring doorbell and change the route she takes to work.

"She now has trouble sleeping, and wakes in the middle of the night thinking he is nearby."

The court also heard Down had one dissimilar conviction which happened 11 years ago, but had not been in trouble since. He was said to have reacted badly to the break-up, with his actions described as "moments of madness".

Magistrates were also told Down had been going through an emotional and stressful time as his mother had died and he'd been close to her, and that he accepted his actions were harmful to the woman.

The bench decided to jail Down for 180 days, but suspended the term for two years.

They also ordered he carry out 40 rehabilitation sessions with probation and 200 hours of unpaid work.

Mark Tucker, chairman of the bench, said: "This had an impact on [your victim's] day-to-day life and is a serious offence."

Down will also be subject to a two-year restraining order which bans him from contacting the woman or her family members.

He was also ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £128 victim surcharge.