A man who sent more than 250 unsolicited messages to a woman in just three days has been jailed.

Nigel Bundock was forbidden from contacting his victim but persisted to harass her anyway.

The 37-year-old, of Freeman Road, Gravesend , already had a history of abusive behaviour against the victim and had been made the subject of the restraining order.

He had also previously received a two-month suspended sentence for breaching the order.

Despite continually being told not to contact her, between October 26 and 29 last year, he sent her more than 250 unwanted text messages.

Some of the texts expressed jealousy that the victim was friends with another man, and in one of them he threatened to harm himself in a bid to manipulate her into responding.

He also tried to coerce her into conversation by telling her he had bought her a dog.

"His actions were alarming and entirely unacceptable..."

Police intervened upon receiving a report he had breached his restraining order, and charged him with the offence.

The unwanted contact ceased until April 8, when he called the victim 10 times.

At Maidstone Crown Court on Wednesday, Bundock pleaded guilty to two counts of breaching a restraining order and was jailed for 21 months.

Det Con Mark Penny, an investigating officer for the case, said: "Bundock repeatedly failed to comply with orders instructing him not to contact the victim of this case and subjected her to a considerable amount of distress in the process.

"He knew the impact his messages were having and went to great lengths to try and manipulate her into responding to him.

"His actions were alarming and entirely unacceptable and, after repeatedly failing to comply with instructions, it is clear that a prison sentence is appropriate.

"This type of offending should not tolerated by anyone and I would encourage anyone affected by a similar issue to report it to us so we can provide support and help them pursue justice."

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