A jilted man plagued his ex-girlfriend with messages hinting he wanted to take his own life and left her feeling “terrified”.

Unable to handle their break-up, Edward Elliot from Ramsgate engaged in what a judge described as "narcissistic and manipulative" behaviour to rekindle contact with the woman.

This included sending images showing tablets and medication with letters addressed to family members, and one from a clifftop with the words: "This is going to hurt but it's worth it."

Canterbury Crown Court heard the 26-year-old also sent his former partner unwanted gifts of flowers and chocolates – and even went so far as to concoct a rape allegation in a bizarre attempt to force her to speak to him.

On another occasion he waited in his van for six hours outside a property she was visiting, sending her numerous emails and warning he would "sit here all night if I have to".

His "terrified" victim told police she thought he would never stop harassing her.

Elliot, of Brindle Grove, was arrested and later pleaded guilty to an offence of stalking involving serious alarm and distress.

Prosecutor Rio Pahlavanpour told the sentencing hearing on Tuesday that the woman was repeatedly contacted by her ex via email, texts and WhatsApp, and that he used a withheld number to make as many as 100 calls.

As well as insinuating suicide on several occasions, he also told her he loved her, wanted to marry her, missed her and that he was "not giving up" on her.

When she blocked his phone number, an undeterred Elliot simply emailed her asking to be unblocked, the court heard.

Detailing some of his persistent communications and behaviour, Mr Pahlavanpour said: "Threats of suicide were made by the defendant and a reference to him taking 40 tablets.

"The victim described that as an effort by him to re-establish contact and the messages continued.

"She describes receiving approximately 100 calls from a private number. A small number were answered – [she] heard his voice and then hung up.

"There were unwanted gifts of flowers and chocolates, numerous hand-posted letters, and an incident when he attended her home, repeatedly banging on the front door.

"On leaving her property, she saw the defendant's vehicle at the end of her road."

Elliot also sent her an email saying he was forcing himself to be sick after taking 40 tablets, and later that he was in the A&E department at Margate's QEQM Hospital with chest pain.

In another email he referred to being accused of rape but the court heard this was “a ruse” as no such allegations had been made.

"The extreme nature of that message was another effort, in her view, to re-instigate contact," added the prosecutor.

"She thought the defendant would never leave her alone.

"She said his actions had a significant effect on her day-to-day life for months. It was persistent and over a relatively long period."

James Harrison, defending, said Elliot had expressed remorse and regret for his behaviour and was now in a new relationship.

He also told the court his client had not only complied with his bail conditions but also a two-year stalking protection order (SPO) imposed after his arrest - something the judge remarked was "to his credit" and "may have saved him" from being jailed.

But on handing him a 12-month prison term suspended for 18 months, Recorder Daniel Stevenson told Elliot that he "needed to understand" the impact his behaviour had had on his former girlfriend.

"You caused her to feel terrified by your persistent stalking behaviour. It made her feel anxious and depressed," the judge said.

"She found herself overwhelmed because she didn't think you would ever leave her alone.

"What was it that compelled you to act in this way? I have no doubt you considered you loved her and wanted your relationship to continue.

"You felt you had not been provided with an explanation why she had chosen to end your relationship.

"But your conduct was not that of a loving partner but someone being manipulative. You sought to control her and to evoke sympathy through emotional blackmail. Threatening suicide is a narcissistic form of domestic abuse.

"Your conduct was not just emotionally manipulative but also criminal. A woman, or man, is absolutely entitled to decide to end a relationship without being consequently stalked or harassed."

As part of his suspended sentence, Elliot, who has no previous convictions and was described as "intelligent, capable and hard-working", was ordered to carry out 180 hours' unpaid work and 20 rehabilitation activity requirements.

He was also made subject to a six-year restraining order, with the SPO due to expire in December this year.

Recorder Stevenson explained that on reaching his decision to suspend the jail term he had taken into account the impact custody would have on Elliot's father, for whom he cares, that there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation, and his offending did not involve any direct threats of violence or abusive language towards the victim.

On being told he had "come close" to going immediately to prison and "not to waste" the chance he had been given, Elliot thanked the judge.