A STALKER who bombarded his ex with hundreds of phone calls and text messages before threatening to kill her walked free yesterday (Friday, September 12).

Peter Benson - described as "jealous, possessive and controlling" - could not cope with the end of the 11-year relationship last year.

He drove slowly past his former partner's home numerous times a night, parked outside and flashed his lights and called her at work.

Prosecutor Paul Lee told Teesside Crown Court that he eerily had the habit of turning up in the same place as his terrified ex.

A stranger stopped the woman in the street one day and asked her "Do you know you've got a stalker", Mr Lee told Judge Peter Bowers.

In an impact statement, the victim said she now worries about simple or innocuous events, and has had to change the way she does things.

"I feel like he is controlling my life," she said. "He turns up at random places where I am. I am constantly looking over my shoulder."

Judge Bowers described the conduct as "an insidious form of mental torture" and told Benson, 54: "What you were doing was cruel."

The court heard that the woman received 279 telephone calls and 502 text messages in the months after the split in March.

Mr Lee said they varied from expressions of love to one which said: "I hate you. You've ruined my life and I'm going to ruin yours."

Jim Withyman, mitigating, said: "It seems he felt that by persistently showing his love for her, that he would win her back.

"Clearly there comes a time when any a sensible person must realise that that's not the case and it's having the opposite effect."

Quinn, of Yarm Lane, Stockton, admitted stalking, and was given a 16-month prison sentence, which was suspended for 18 months.

He was also put on supervision and was ordered to observe an electronic tag curfew from 7pm to 6am until the end of the year.

"That will act as a warning to you about how close you have come to custody," Judge Bowers told him.

"It will also give some comfort to your ex-partner that until the end of the year, at least, after darkness you will not be out."

He added: "It is quite clear from what I have seen and read, that within the relationship and since you can be described as possessive, controlling and jealous.

"That sort of behaviour is both intimidating and frightening."