A woman who once threatened to throw acid in her ex-lover's face has escaped jail a second time after attacking him with a piece of wood.

Krystle Bates sent a message to Christopher West’s girlfriend Alanah Westwood in March 6 this year saying: "Watch, will you still love Chris when he has acid thrown in his face?"

He reported the threat to police two days later.

The following day Bates, 18, went to Miss Westwood’s Maidstone home just after midnight and repeatedly kicked her front door, causing £250 of damage.

Mr West also told police about an earlier attack by Bates in which he was hit across his back with the piece of wood.

When arrested, Bates said she had sent the threatening message and kicked the front door because she was angry about an explicit movie clip she had received from Mr West.

But she walked free after a judge said she needed to "let it go and move on".

Bates, who lives in supported accommodation in Maidstone, was given a two-year community order with a 30-day rehabilitation activity requirement and a five-month tagged curfew between 8pm and 7am.

Earlier this year, she admitted at magistrates' court sending a malicious communication and criminal damage. She was given a 12-month community order with a three-month tagged curfew.

The sentence was revoked and substituted with the two-year order at Maidstone Cown Court.

Prosecutor James Bloomer said the couple argued as they sat in a Renault Megane outside her home in January 15 this year.

Bates picked up an air rifle from the passenger footwell and Mr West fled.

“He ran back to the house, turned around and saw Miss Bates had a long piece of wood in her hand,” he said.

“He returned, thinking she was going to strike the car, and tried to calm her down. But she swung the wood at his face, missing him, but then caught him to his back horizontally.”

Mr Bloomer said the subsequent acid attack message sent two months later had caused him and Miss Westwood "considerable concern" and prompted him to alert police.

Bates, who has a previous conviction for common assault on her mother in 2016, denied a fourth charge of possessing a firearm - the air rifle - with intent to cause fear of violence.

A year’s restraining order was imposed on Bates, who also admitted common assault.

The plea was accepted by the prosecution as Mr West had “disengaged” with legal proceedings.

Mr Bloomer said Bates, who also admitted common assault, and Mr West had had the weapon for shooting targets.

A restraining order for a year was made in respect of her ex-boyfriend and Miss Westwood.

Judge Adele Williams told Bates: “What you did on this occasion was wrong and you know that now.”