A man beat up his pregnant girlfriend then bombarded her with more than 1,000 messages and calls asking why she had broken up with him.
Ian Kirkwood had been in a relationship with the woman for six years before it came to an end in September last year.
Norwich Crown Court heard she told the 38-year-old it was over and asked him not to contact her.
Simon Gladwell, prosecuting, said over the next four days Kirkwood sent 1,127 WhatsApp messages to the victim who also received 72 calls from him.
The woman was left "frightened" and "scared" by the calls and messages from Kirkwood.
The stalking occurred more than five months after the woman was assaulted by Kirkwood following an argument they had while he was driving her in his van.
Kirkwood braked suddenly as they were driving along Taverham Road, Honingham, in March last year and the woman, who had been pregnant at the time, tried to get out but was grabbed by the defendant.
Mr Gladwell said "he had her in a bear hug" and was "grabbing her, stopping her getting away".
But the incident was seen by other passers-by and police were called.
Kirkwood, of The Street, Lenwade, appeared at court on Thursday to be sentenced after he admitted stalking and another offence of assault by beating.
Before Kirkwood was sentenced the victim, who was shaking profusely, got up to read an impact statement about the offending.
She said she had been in a relationship with her ex-partner for six years but said he hurt her "even when I was pregnant with his baby".
"He still got angry and physically hurt me," she said.
She said she tried to walk away from him and doing so "took every bit of strength I had".
She said she was inundated with calls and messages from him as he "tried to manipulate me" and "control me again".
She told the court her mental health was "at an all time low" and did not know where she would be were it not for her family, friends and the police.
Imposing a five-month prison sentence, Recorder Emma Greenwood said it was clear "distress" was caused to the victim by Kirkwood's behaviour.
Andrew Oliver, mitigating, said the messages were "non threatening" and that he had wanted to know why the relationship had ended and express his love for her.
He said the messaging and calls happened over a four day period and offered no threat of violence.
In terms of the assault, Mr Oliver said Kirkwood had been "concerned for her welfare" after she got out of his van.
He said Kirkwood now understands the relationship was over and wanted to get on with his life.
Kirkwood has been made the subject of a restraining order, banning him from contacting the victim directly or indirectly for five years.
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