A man has been banned from entering the whole of Powys for five years after stalking and harassing his ex-girlfriend over a 12-day period.

Ravinder Sangha booked a 24-day stay near his former partner's home near Newtown and got hold of a BB gun from inside the property and sent her a picture of him holding it.

He also set up a fake Facebook profile days after a court ordered him not to contact her for two years.

Terrified, his victim felt she could not return home due to fear of her safety.

The 39-year-old, of Slade Road, Birmingham, appeared at Caernarfon Crown Court on Thursday, July 27, via video link from HMP Berwyn where he was on remand.

He was given a 12-month prison sentence suspended for two years after pleading guilty to stalking and harassment between June 18 and July 1, this year.

He is banned from contacting his ex for five years except through social services.

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Sangha had already repeatedly contacted his former partner at night through at least 97 emails and numerous WhatsApp messages and phone calls. He even sent abusive messages through bank transfers calling her vile names, telling her she could die, as well as racist comments.

Sangha also sent abusive messages on social media and set up a Facebook profile with his victim's picture to contact her friends and work colleagues.

During a police interview, Sangha acknowledged sending messages through bank transfers while drunk but claimed he was being blackmailed. He admitted sending abusive messages to "vent his frustration and knows he shouldn’t have".

Mr Recorder Greg Bull KC said: "You embarked on a campaign of fear in a variety of ways over some weeks and it was deliberate. In my judgment you had not proper reason to do it and you have put your former partner in fear that she would be seriously harmed.

"These offences are particularly serious. They fall into the highest category of these type of offences. In my judgment the only mitigation is that you had the sense to plead guilty.

"You have not found custody easy, and it is your first time. I hope it will be a constant reminder for you for a very long time if this behaviour is repeated.

"You have to keep your temper in check. You haven’t enjoyed three weeks at His Majesty's Pleasure at Berwyn. It’s your decision if you go back there.”

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The court heard Sangha had three convictions for five offences between 2022 and 2023 including a racially aggravated public order offence, and battery and criminal damage worth £2,000 against his former partner which resulted in a two-year restraining order.

His defence barrister said she accepted that the offences were "serious and happened quickly after the order was made" but asked Mr Recorder Bull to suspend his prison sentence.

Jemma Gordon said: "This is his first experience of custody. He has made more time to reflect on his behaviour and what he needs to concentrate on to not offend again.

"He has an ex-wife and children with her. In custody clearly the relationship and contact has been interrupted. The defendant says he spoke to his son this week and after that phone call his son asked why he wasn’t home, and if he didn’t love him.

"He doesn’t want to be prison. He wants to continue his business which is deteriorating and his relationship with his children."

Wiping away tears, Sangha told the court that he was "really sorry" for his behaviour.