A woman is suffering sleepless nights and has lost six stone after a stalker who allegedly plotted to hit her with a hammer was released from prison.

Mia Johnson lives in constant fear after Daniel Waghorne, who was due to stand trial at Maidstone Crown Court on Monday, admitted a lesser charge of stalking and was handed a 10-week prison sentence.

Having already served more than five months on remand, he was allowed to leave custody and return home.

Miss Johnson, 26, from Allington, has sleepless nights and has suffered a dramatic six-stone weight because of everyday anxiety.

The mum-of-three said: “I am constantly looking around because I don’t know if he is going to turn up.

“My youngest witnessed Dan breaking into my house and my six-year-old told him to leave me alone. My eldest two have had to have counselling.”

A judge heard Waghorne, 27, of Riverhead Close, refused to accept the relationship was over, bombarding his ex with texts and threatening to get her children taken away from her.

Waghorne was at the time subject to a 12-month community order and a restraining order for an earlier offence of harassing Miss Johnson.

He had also been convicted of a similar offence involving another girlfriend by repeatedly texting her.

Waghorne was due to stand trial for stalking, causing fear of violence.

He is alleged to have breached a restraining order and asked others to break into Miss Johnson’s home to attack her with a hammer as she slept. But he pleaded guilty to the less serious offence of stalking.

It involved following accountancy student Miss Johnson, breaking into her home and sending 388 text messages over four days.

The couple had got back together after a previous break-up which led to a restraining order being in place.

But when she said it was over for the second time, Waghorne began turning up at her home and forcing open the back door.

“Over the last year I have lost six stone because of the anxiety and dropped from a size 14 to a four..." - Mia Johnson

Miss Johnson said: “Over the last year I have lost six stone because of the anxiety and dropped from a size 14 to a four.

“There is so much going on in my head and I have no idea if he is going to be there. I’m not sleeping. I’m lucky if I get four hours a night.”

Judge Martin Huseyin told Waghorne the court would take a serious view of any further offending, adding: “You need to move on, seriously.”

Waghorne will be under 12 months supervision and an indefinite restraining order.