A lovelorn man stalked his first sweetheart after being dumped, bombarding her with 500 texts and calls.

Kieron Smith made his ex-girlfriend’s life hell after the two ended their relationship, even making rape threats and claiming he would kill himself.

The victim later told police: “I now feel trapped in my house. I am very scared. I now have to ensure my doors and windows are shut each night and I don’t like living like that.”

Smith, 20, of Trinity Square, Margate pleaded guilty to stalking, between May and July last year. He also admitted causing criminal damage to two vehicles

He was sent to a Young Offender’s Institute for 58 weeks after a judge said: “The message has to go out that this kind of behaviour will NOT be tolerated.”

His own barrister Pieter Briegel told Canterbury Crown Court: “This was quite frankly disgusting and horrific behaviour carried out on someone he had formerly loved.”

Prosecutor Siobhan Molloy said the two had been in a relationship from Christmas Eve 2014 until May last year when they split up after an argument.

"The message has to go out that this kind of behaviour will NOT be tolerated" - Judge James O'Mahony

“Afterwards he sent a series of messages threatening to harm her or take her life, he also called her mother and on occasions called or messaged her 500 times a day.”

Despite the former girlfriend’s refusal to respond, Smith turned up at her home and also sent numerous Facebook messages.

Smith believed she had a new boyfriend and told her he would “stab you both up” and later threatened to cut the brake cables on her car and blow it up.

Then the whingeing Smith pleaded in one text: “Stop ignoring me. I just want to talk” – and he sent the message with a number of angry emoticons.

He added: “This happened all because of you. Now I am going to have to hurt myself. You don’t even care. You never loved or cared.”

On another occasion as she drove home, Smith jumped out in front of the car and asked to be run over.

He later threw three bottles at her, including one while she was driving and later deflated a car tyre before gluing the cap.

Ms Molloy said another car parked nearby had also been damaged by glue.

Smith, who had worked for a Whitstable bearing company, later told police he found it hard letting her go as it had been his first love.

Mr Briegel said Smith has now lost his job and planned to live with his family in Chapel Hill Close, Margate.

Judge James O’Mahony said that failing to passing an immediate sentence would send the wrong message to the victim.

“This was an insidious and very nasty offence," he said. "The effect on her has been devastating. I am aware for someone of your age to have to deal with rejection is difficult.

“But actual wounds often heal better and sooner than wounds inflicted by kind of conduct.”

Smith was also ordered to stay away from his ex and her family indefinitely.