A jealous man made his lover's life a living hell - after their 11 year relationship ended.

Devious Thomas Lloyd, who claimed he "lost his virginity" to his ex- sweetheart, turned up at her Aylesford home with a knife intending to kill himself.

Maidstone Crown Court heard how from September to October 2020 he sent images of a noose, conned police into allowing him access to her home, scribbled notes in books - and almost cost her her job because of his drug use.

Now the 27-year-old, of Tilling Close, Maidstone has been sent to prison and ordered to stay away from the victim and her family for 10 years after admitting stalking and possessing a knife.

Prosecutor Patrick Maggs revealed how the victim had tried to end the relationship earlier but Lloyd threatened to kill himself.

On August 26, he was arrested during a police investigation into drugs and she "took the opportunity to leave".

He then tried to contact her via social media and was blocked and then developed "more complicated ways" to get in touch with her - including turning up at her parents' home for two days running saying he planned to kill himself in front of her using a knife, which was later found in his car.

"You can kiss goodbye to more than your job..."

The court heard how he sent her a message saying: "I'm bleeding to death outside your house and you are not even home to witness it."

Five times he was arrested and each time he was given bail and ordered to stay away - but each time ignored the bail conditions.

Lloyd also told her in a text he had been bad at showing how much he cared but would be willing to go to jail just to prove it.

In another chilling message he said: "You can kiss goodbye to more than your job..as soon as I am out of hospital I am going to tell them about your involvement."

Mr Maggs said the threat was to involve the victim in the drugs investigation.

During September Lloyd contacted her friends and neighbours in an effort to persuade them to contact her on his behalf, he added.

Lloyd sent a message saying "I'll buy a rope tomorrow, bye bye. You think this is a game. I have no life. All you care about is yourself."

He later sent a photograph of a noose - which officers later found at his home in Tilling Close, Maidstone.

Mr Maggs added that in October he was allowed into a home they jointly owned to "collect property" - but damaged property and opened her post.

"It was a devious piece of manipulation and it was vile..."

Three days later the victim went to the house and found between 10 -20 letters had been opened and a book she had bought as a present for her mother had been defaced with another message.

The prosecutor added that Lloyd had also gone into her YouTube account and had created a playlist and also created another Facebook account with pictures of them both.

He was eventually arrested for the last time on October 13 and admitted he had already programmed an automatic message to his ex saying he had killed himself which she received.

She later told police that she has endured flashbacks, suffers from depression and lives in fear of "bumping into him".

Mr Maggs revealed she had even changed her hairstyle to be "less recognisable" to him.

"She felt that nothing could stop Mr lloyd and certainly not the police and has shut all her social media accounts and now fears receiving messages even from friends.

"She even feared losing her job and has left her home, " he added.

Judge Julian Smith ruled that his phone, which contained personal images of his ex - be destroyed and he is banned from going to areas of Aylesford or contacting her for 10 years.

He told him "After she left you, there followed the most protracted and appalling, manipulative and deliberate, oppressive and controlling behaviour.

"It was a devious piece of manipulation and it was vile...it was a campaign against your former partner."

"He should be thoroughly ashamed on his conduct..."

Jailing him for 22 months, he added: "We do not own the people we share a life with and we never have the right to control and crush them."

PC Chris Crawford of the Maidstone Vulnerability Investigation Team said: "This man continually harassed the victim over several weeks and caused her significant distress. He knew she did not want him to make contact with her and carried on regardless. He should be thoroughly ashamed on his conduct.

"It is right that he is now serving a prison sentence and I would like to thank the victim for bravely assisting investigators to bring him to justice."

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