A thug who put his ex-partner through a “terrifying ordeal” by harassing her and threatening to kill her has been jailed for three years and four months.

Despite being banned, James Moore followed Jodie Smith in his van in Maidstone and rammed the car she was driving, it was alleged.

Prosecutor Patrick Dennis said the relationship was over as far as Miss Smith was concerned.

But late on August 29 Moore, 40, phoned Miss Smith and asked her to go to his bungalow in Iwade.

She was reluctant but did so. He kept saying she should live with him. She told him it was not going to happen.

“She took the threats extremely seriously. She felt she had to go over because she was worried about the consequences”

Mr Dennis said Moore became extremely angry, shouting at her. He punched her and put his hand over her mouth. He screamed in her ear: “I am going to kill you.”

Miss Smith was having difficulty breathing but she managed to bite his finger and he let go. He prevented her from leaving and she remained there until the next morning.

He then let her go to a shop and she instead went home.

Mr Dennis said Moore asked her to go back on August 31 but she refused as she was too scared. He then made threats, saying he would burn down her parents’ home.

“She took the threats extremely seriously,” Mr Dennis told Maidstone Crown Court. “She felt she had to go over because she was worried about the consequences.”

She took a friend with her and Moore quickly lost his temper. Miss Smith and her friend used his car to go to the shops in Maidstone.

While there, Moore appeared flashing the lights of his transit van and driving dangerously close in Sutton Road and Willington Street.

Mr Dennis said Moore rammed the rear of the car. Her steering cut out and he tried to get her into his van. He waved a knuckleduster around.

Miss Smith called the police, giving a running commentary. When arrested, Moore claimed the allegations were fabricated.

Moore, of School Lane, Iwade, denied two charges of assault, dangerous driving, making a threat to kill, driving while disqualified and putting a person in fear of violence by harassment, but was convicted on Monday.