A woman whose ex-boyfriend was banned by a court from contacting her was pestered by him on TikTok and WhatsApp.

Matthew Rintoul was subject to a restraining order when he repeatedly messaged his former partner via social media platforms.

Maidstone Crown Court heard that in July last year the 39-year-old, who has previous convictions for battery and harassment, had been prohibited from communicating with his victim for five years.

But over a two-week period in February this year he sent several voice clips via WhatsApp, making no attempt to hide his identity by using an account in the name of “Matt” and with his number.

Described as "rejected, naive and immature", he also made several calls and sent a text saying “Hi”.

Prosecutor Jemima Lovatt said Rintoul then resorted to using his TikTok to ask her to contact him.

"He asked why she had blocked him and asked 'What have I done to deserve this?'," she added.

“It’s perfectly apparent you would not, could not, accept this relationship was over…”

He continued in his attempts to communicate with the victim, who received notifications that he was viewing her TikTok account, and then on March 1 he liked a video she had uploaded to the platform.

The prosecutor told the court that Rintoul's behaviour caused his former girlfriend serious distress and she was forced to make lifestyle changes.

Rintoul, of Marlborough Road, Gillingham, later admitted harassment, four breaches of the restraining order and breach of a six-month suspended sentence.

This had been imposed by magistrates for offences of stalking, intimidation and breaching the same contact ban just days before he committed his latest crimes.

However, his defence lawyer Dale Beeson told the court at the sentencing hearing on August 8 that having behaved with "naivety and immaturity" after the break-up, Rintoul had now "fully acknowledged" the relationship was over.

He also argued that although the harassment was "concentrated and persistent", it lacked any "great venom, viciousness and vindictiveness" in asking his ex-girlfriend why he was being ignored and blocked.

But shortly after the judge had remarked he viewed the apparent acceptance of the split being final "with some hesitancy", Rintoul took to blaming his former partner.

Appearing via prison video link, he told the court in an unexpected outburst: "All my life up until I met this person, I had never been in trouble with the law. I was a law-abiding person.

"There is evidence of her contacting me. There is evidence on my phone of her contacting me so I replied. Why am I being punished?

"She contacted me on a Facebook profile under a different name and it was her."

“You not only acted against her interests but in defiance of a court order. This was a persistent course of conduct…”

At one stage a clearly agitated Rintoul even ordered the judge to "listen" to him, having also disputed a date when it was said he had been convicted at magistrates' court for previous offending.

However, his assertion that he would recall such an event "considering I have a good memory", was met with a strong retort by Judge Smith who said: "Do you? Well, try remembering you're subject to a court order."

Just minutes earlier he had jailed Rintoul for 14 months, warning him of the consequences of similar conduct in the future.

"It's perfectly apparent you would not, could not, accept this relationship was over. You were given the chance to behave with maturity and move on, and were positively encouraged to do so," said Judge Smith.

"You resorted to pressure and anger and an order was made against you requiring you to desist the harassment in respect of the complainant.

"You ignored it. You knew better. It's not just a question of seeking to control your former partner. It's a complete disregard for court orders despite being given repeated opportunities to comply and opportunities to reflect on your behaviour.

"You used a WhatsApp account in the name of Matt to contact her. You made no real attempt to hide it or disguise it, and you sent her messages saying 'What have I done to deserve this?' Your focus was entirely on you.

"These charges are merely the latest in a series of such offences. This was conduct you made in defiance of the order placed on you. I'm told the relationship is over, I hope that is right.

"I accept that with some hesitancy, although I have read a lot about the progress you have made while in custody.

"As to the submission this was not overtly threatening or aggressive conduct and you were merely questioning why you had been rejected, it seems to me that was a question late in the day.

“The next time you breach it, there will be nowhere to hide and sentences will only increase and become more severe each time you do…”

"You not only acted against her interests but in defiance of a court order. This was a persistent course of conduct.

"The next time you breach it, there will be nowhere to hide and sentences will only increase and become more severe each time you do."