A pervert who had under-age sex with a teenage girl and then subjected her to a campaign of harassment has been jailed for six years.

Timothy Fuller was described by a judge as “devious and conniving” when trying to get his way.

The 30-year-old, of Sandwich Road, Tunbridge Wells, admitted three offences of sexual activity with a child.

Maidstone Crown Court heard he was 29 when he began communicating with the 15-year-old girl on Facebook. It became “flirtatious” and they started meeting.

Prosecutor Charlotte Newell said it was the girl’s first proper sexual relationship, with intercourse happening a few times until she ended it in 2012.

Miss Newell said Fuller had a long history of harassing former girlfriends and he did not take her decision well.

“He began to bombard her with calls and text messages and followed her,” she said.

“He created fake Facebook and hotmail accounts in her name. She had a new phone number and he managed to get hold of it.

“He put on Facebook a doctored picture of her and threats with a speech bubble of lewd content.

"He engaged in Facebook chat with her pretending to be a man called Mark Anthony. There was emotional blackmail.”

Fuller followed the girl and called her names in front of her friends. A complaint was eventually made to the police and he was arrested.

Miss Newell said the girl looked back on the relationship as something seedy. She told him to leave her alone and said he was “acting like a creepy person” and added she felt disgusted.

Fuller was given supervision and made the subject of restraining orders in 2010 and 2012 for harassing an ex-girlfriend and friend.

Judge Philip Statman said the latest offence involved an escalation in his behaviour.

An extended sentence for public protection had been uppermost in his mind but he said he was persuaded it was not necessary on this occasion. It would be imposed if he offended again.

The judge said the victim was entitled to receive the protection of the law.

“All these threats were made to a 15-year-old girl who just wanted to get away from you and lead a normal life,” he continued.

“The consequences indicate to me that your behaviour towards her has had a considerable impact. These events show the extent which you sought to control her..." - Judge Philip Statman

“The consequences indicate to me that your behaviour towards her has had a considerable impact. These events show the extent which you sought to control her.

“This level of abuse of control is a hallmark which attracts not just to the current offences but may be seen in you previous criminality.

“One thing that rings through from your personality is your ability to be controlling in relation to partners.”

Judge Statman said the imposition of a sexual offences prevention order would protect his victim and other vulnerable people.

His name will appear on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely and he is barred from working with children.

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