The ex-girlfriend of a former newspaper photographer said he “ruined her life” after he followed her around town in his car.

Gavin Crayford was slapped with a restraining order and handed a suspended sentence at Medway Magistrates’ Court after he admitted stalking his former partner.

However, the 46-year-old claimed he did not intend to cause her any alarm or distress and only wanted to see their child.

At a hearing on Wednesday (November 6), the bench was told Crayford, of Fallowfield, Sittingbourne, had been in an on-and-off relationship with the complainant for four years which gradually broke down in 2022.

The court heard his ex-girlfriend had changed her number and told the defendant he would not have any contact with her or their child going forward.

However, Crayford still tried to engage with her by sending her three or four emails every day and was looking to restart their relationship.

The court also heard throughout his harassment campaign the former lensman also sent her messages, some threatening self-harm, and tried to contact her family members.

Prosecuting, Dylan Bradshaw told Magistrates Crayford also transferred 20p to the mother of his child’s bank account and then £100, which she arranged to be returned to him, in a shot to get her to contact him.

However, the “catalyst” incident was in April 2023 when Crayford followed the victim in his car as she was leaving Sainsbury’s, in Sittingbourne, with her children, the court heard.

Mr Bradshaw said: “She was surprised he was there. He pulled up [next to her] slowly and she began to panic.

“The children were shouting at her and she locked the doors.”

After spotting his vehicle, she attempted to lose him but he persisted in chasing her car as she drove around the town and tried to block her from leaving a car park, the court was told.

Mr Bradshaw added: “That really was the incident which resulted in her going to the police.”

He told the court the incident made the victim not want to go outside or do everyday things and although leaving her fearful, she was not scared he would physically hurt her.

A “compelling” victim impact statement the prosecutor read to the court, said: “Gavin has ruined my life. He could not take no for an answer.”

Defending, Mr Morland said Crayford denies “chasing” his ex-girlfriend but admitted to following her because he wanted to speak to his child.

He added: “He has been crystal clear he did not want to cause alarm or distress and he did not know that he was.

This is not someone who will bother the complainant or the court again

“He did not intend to have the effect he did but fully accepts that this was the outcome of his behaviour.

“He has seen her in public since and taken steps to avoid her to not cause alarm or distress.

“He was naïve at the time. He wishes to reassure the complainant he will not engage in this behaviour again.”

Mr Morland told the court his client, who was described by friends and family as “nice and caring”, felt “genuine remorse” and his actions were “out of character”.

He added: “This is not someone who will bother the complainant or the court again.”

Crayford - who had worked freelance for the KM Media Group for 18 months several years prior to the offence - pleaded guilty to stalking involving serious alarm or distress between February 2022 and April 2023 at an earlier hearing in August.

He was sentenced to 24 weeks in custody, suspended for two years, and was issued a two-year restraining order preventing him from contacting his ex-partner.

He was also ordered to pay £85 in costs and a £154 surcharge.