A man sent offensive and threatening text messages to his pregnant former partner - including sending her a photo of a imitation gun - as part of a 'vile' campaign, a court heard.

Ashley Bindley, 23, frightened his ex-partner with messages including one which said that she would soon be with her deceased father.

He also sent her a photo of a BB gun which he later claimed had been a joke, Norwich Crown Court heard.

John Farmer, prosecuting, said the victim finally contacted police about the harassment on June 5 this year but, even after that, Bindley continued to try to contact her until his arrest the next day.

In an impact statement, the victim said his actions made her feel in a 'constant state of panic'.

She said she was pregnant at the time and felt very stressed about the whole situation.

Bindley, of St Leonards Road, Norwich, admitted putting a person in fear of violence by harassment,

Mitigating, Peter Spary said Bindley now accepted the relationship was over and acknowledged it had been a 'vile' campaign he had waged.

He said: 'These were empty threats to provoke a response from her.'

He said Bindley accepted that sending her an image of a toy gun was 'not funny'.

He said Bindley had mental health issues but, while on remand, had put his time to good use and taken training courses which he planned to build on in the future.

'He has made great strides in the last few months,' Mr Spary said. 'There is much hope in this young man.'

Judge Maureen Bacon accepted Bindley had turned his life around and gave him a 12-month jail sentence, suspended for two years.

He was also made subject to a restraining order for five years to stay away from his former partner, as well as ordered to do 40 hours of unpaid work.

Judge Bacon told him the most serious aspect of his behaviour was sending a photo of a BB gun.

'It had the desired effect to put her in fear,' she said.

However she warned: 'You will never get this chance again.'