A disgruntled store supervisor waged a hate email campaign against his former bosses after he lost his job, a court heard.

Michael Hatton sent fraudulent emails to suppliers and customers of the Food Machinery Company, falsely claiming the firm was facing financial hardship.

Hatton, 48, had worked at the Hoo company, which supplies machinery for industrial food processing and packaging, on a three-month probationary period.

However, when told in April 2009 that his job, which paid £17,000 a year, was not to be made permanent, Hatton reacted by sending the emails to various clients, alleging cash flow problems and the likely prospect of the company going into administration.

Maidstone Crown Court heard he sent five messages over a four-day period, including one to Del Monte.

Prosecutor Archie Mackay said the emails were "calculated and written in a dry, serious language".

Hatton, of Caldew Avenue, Rainham, admitted five offences of fraud between May 1 and 4, 2009.

Jailing him for three months, suspended for 18 months, Judge Philip St John-Stevens said Hatton's motive was retribution and retaliation.

He added: "Your intention was to cause economic harm to the company which had just dismissed you."

As part of his sentence Hatton, who is unemployed, must carry out 120 hours of unpaid work.

The court heard Hatton has a previous conviction for harassment, and in 2002 was warned by police for similar behaviour after he left another job.

The court heard that despite the emails there was no financial loss to Food Machinery Company. However, its owner, Michael Wilkinson, said in a statement to police that doubts had been cast over the firm and he spent two months contacting customers to assure them there were no problems.

He stated: "If I had not done this the consequences for my company could have been very bad."

Judge St John-Stevens also imposed a five-year restraining order on Hatton, preventing him from sending similar emails and approaching or lingering near the company.

John Evans, defending, said Hatton made a "knee-jerk" reaction to losing his job, having believed he was performing well and without problems.