A WOMAN who suffered “terrifying” harassment at the hands of her former partner said she feels “he will always be watching me”.

Brian Sales, 64, repeatedly called and left messages for his expartner in January 2020, leaving her fearing for her safety.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard across a three-day period she received more than 73 missed calls and text messages from Sales, resulting in her moving to a temporary address to get away from him.

After Sales, of no fixed address, was eventually arrested and released on bail, he continued to make contact with the victim.

The court was told on one occasion he told her “if you don’t drop the charges, then all bets are off”.

Mr Sawyer said: “That left her feeling scared, crying and shaking.”

More from court: Man stabbed three victims more than 60 times in 'frenzied and calculating' attack

The harassment culminated in Sales spraying paint onto four cars parked in the driveway of a family member of the victim in Clacton.

Sales admitted four counts of criminal damage and one count of harassment in relation to the calls and messages.

In a victim impact statement, the woman said: “I feel like he thinks I am his property and he will always be watching me.”

Sales also admitted two counts of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs, on the basis he acted as a driver for a drugs supply line operating in Colchester.

David Tremain, mitigating, said his client’s behaviour towards his former partner was “compulsive and not planned”.

“He was picking up a phone and venting,” he said.

“This is not behaviour that is planned, calculated, targeted. It’s excessive, it’s harassment, but it is – on each occasion that behaviour occurred – essentially impulsive.”

Judge Timothy Walker suspended a 17-month prison sentence for two years.

He said: “You’ve gone about matters in completely the wrong way.

“[This was] utterly offensive behaviour towards her, so much so that taking everything into account and all the behaviour she alleges against you, she’s had to move address so you didn’t know where she was.

“She’s terrified of you – someone she used to share her life with – and that is utterly unacceptable.”

Sales must complete a 40-day rehabilitation activity requirement and a 12-session treatment requirement.

He will remain subject to a fourmonth electronically monitored curfew.