A man who bombarded a woman with hundreds of unwanted calls and messages containing threats and homophobic abuse has escaped an immediate jail sentence.

John Bartle, 38, called the woman more than 250 times in two days including threatening to “smash her face in”.

He also told the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, he would send an intimate photo to her family and work colleagues, Norwich Crown Court was told.

Among other messages she was inundated with were homophobic abuse and derogatory disability comments about her daughter. 

Eastern Daily Press: A man made hundreds of unwanted calls in campaign of harassment A man made hundreds of unwanted calls in campaign of harassment (Image: PA)

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Chris Youell, prosecuting, said the calls were "deeply offensive, abusive and threatening".

“The threat to disclose an intimate photo seen against the bile of the other messages shows a clear intention to cause this woman as much distress and humiliation as possible,” he added.

The harassment began after an incident when he had attacked the woman at the Cherry Tree pub in Dereham in October 2022 biting her lip and grabbing her by the throat.

The court was told in March 2023 she had received an unsolicited call from him and, despite blocking the number, she received hundreds of further calls from withheld numbers in the following 48 hours.  

The victim was "scared he would try to do something to hurt me and my children", said Mr Youell.

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Eastern Daily Press: The woman received messages containing threats to disclose intimate imagesThe woman received messages containing threats to disclose intimate images (Image: PA)

Bartle, of Bell Yard, Dereham, previously admitted assault, harassment and sending malicious communications and threatening to disclose sexual photographs with intent to cause distress.

Sentencing him to 24 weeks in prison, suspended for 24 months, Recorder Nicola Fitches said the messages had been “deeply offensive to the victim and her daughter”. 

She ordered him to complete a 24 month rehabilitation programme and imposed a two year restraining order not to contact the victim. 

Lori Tucker, mitigating, said: “He regrets it and has admitted they were disgusting."