A controlling bully put a tracking device in his ex-partner’s car and set up CCTV cameras at her home so that he could monitor her movements, a court heard.

Paul Dayman even had the date of the end of a restraining order banning contact with her tattooed on his fingers.

The 43-year-old father of one of her children also threatened her in messages and breached court orders.

Judge Heather Baucher told Dayman, of Silverdale Avenue, Minster: “You are a bully – full stop. ”

Dayman admitted controlling and coercive behaviour and was jailed for two years and three months.

Maidstone Crown Court was told the couple had been in a relationship for about eight years, but in December 2015 the police were called after Dayman made threats to burn her house down with her in it.

In June last year he was given a suspended sentence for sending threatening communications. Prosecutor Trevor Wright said in March this year Dayman pushed the woman in the face, causing her nose to bleed.

A few days later she found a tracking device hidden in her car. Dayman had recently installed a satnav system for her.

“She suspected he had been tracking her,” said Mr Wright. “It had a green flashing light on it and was attached by wires and held in place by tape.”

Police found that such a device was available on eBay for £25.

The victim then gave an in-depth statement about the abuse she had suffered. Cameras in the home monitored how long she took to do things and what time she returned. He sent messages counting down the time she should arrive.

“He even got the date the restraining order runs out tattooed on his fingers,” said Mr Wright. “He stopped her using her car so she had to walk to work.”

He had two affairs with women, one of whom had his child.

She told him to leave after he made her nose bleed. When arrested, he said: “I thought we were messing about.”

A non-molestation order was made, but because he was in prison it was not served. Within 10 days he wrote to her saying he wanted to see the children.