A MAN who was caught up in a murder investigation for two years has been jailed for harassing a woman he believed he fathered a child with.

Shazad Hussain, a convicted sex offender, sent vile abuse to the woman despite her repeatedly telling him that her daughter was not his.

The 40-year-old became obsessed with his victim after their relationship ended and he saw her with a child, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Rachel Masters, prosecuting, said: "The defendant clearly indicated that he believed the daughter was his. He contacted her a number of times saying she was his daughter.

"On March 28 he sent her a number of abusive messages."

Miss Masters told the court that Hussain had 38 convictions for 59 offences, including sexual assault and breaching of his sexual harm prevention order.

Hussain, of Thornton Street, Middlesbrough, pleaded guilty to a charge of harassment over a two month period this year between March and May.

His legal representative, Tom Mitchell, said Hussain's life had been affectively on hold for two years while he was subject to police investigation as part of a murder inquiry.

He said: "He was suspected of murder and that investigation into him was closed last week. The police have written to him saying they are no longer interested in him."

Mr Mitchell said his client has been working and is looking to move forward with his life after his world fell apart during the investigation.

He added: "He is no longer a person of interest as far at the murder investigation is concerned, he can rebuild his life after what he has gone through in the last two years."

Judge Paul Watson QC, the Recorder of Middlesbrough, said: "Between March and May this year you sent out rather abusive and threatening messages on Facebook to your former partner.

"It is clear from what she says it has considerably affected her, which I'm sure was the impact you intended it to have.

"It was over a relatively short period of time and it seems you accept that the relationship between yourself and her is over."

Hussain was jailed for 16 weeks and issued with a three-year restraining order.