A MAN was jailed for a campaign of threats and abuse against an ex-partner.

Durham Crown Court was told Bryan Robson, who was in an 11-year relationship until separation five years ago, bombarded her with phone calls and messages, which were mostly ignored, earlier this year.

Jonathan Walker, prosecuting, said she reported it to police on April 9 and Robson was arrested two days later.

Less than a fortnight later she received a message from a neighbour telling her Robson was seen in a drunken state near her home.

She returned to find the door unlocked, a can of lager in the sink, washing disturbed, her bank card crumpled and a photo of her with her late father placed on the bed, which was urinated on.

The neighbour also reported seeing Robson in an intoxicated state to police and it emerged he had been in a Nissan Qashqai, which was involved in an accident, despite being disqualified from driving and uninsured

He was found hiding behind a hedge, but in arresting him, a police officer trapped a sciatic nerve.

Having made initial denials, Robson, 39, of Fines Park, Stanley, admitted stalking, driving while disqualified and assault causing actual bodily harm at the court on September 7.

While on bail, awaiting sentence, he committed further offences of criminal damage and assault on an emergency worker, in Consett, three days later.

The court heard heard his ex-partner has moved home due to his actions.

Richard Bloomfield, mitigating, said Robson remained offence-free between 2011 and 2019, but since then has appeared before the courts on several occasions.

Imposing a 51-month prison sentence Judge Ray Singh said his conduct was, “intended to maximise fear and distress”, in his ex-partner

Robson was also made subject of a lifetime restraining order, prohibiting him contacting or approaching her.

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