AN ALCOHOLIC whose course of harassment against his ex-girlfriend left her contemplating suicide, appeared before an Isle of Wight court.

Paul Darren Dowsey, of Quay Street, Newport, had texted his former partner on the morning of April 5, but it was not long before he became angry with her rebuttals and the messages became abusive, and he threatened to go to her home.

The jobless 49-year-old, whose relationship with her broke down 18 months earlier, continued to "come and go as he pleased", she said.

Dowsey admitted using abusive and threatening words and behaviour, to cause harassment, alarm and distress.

His victim was fearful of what he might do, said Ann Smout, prosecuting, at the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court.

"She locked all the doors and windows then, at about 3pm, he arrived outside her house and she saw him tampering with her car," explained Mrs Smout.

The woman called the police and recorded the incident on her phone.

Dowsey reacted by hurling stones from her garden at her car, though no damage was caused, before walking up to her lounge window — raising his fist towards her.

The woman's statement read: "Despite being inside my home, I was terrified at what he might do. I was scared for my own safety.

"Since we separated, I have not been able to relax for fear he could turn up at any moment.

"This has impacted on my life so much I want to leave the Island to get away from him and lead a normal life.

"I'm constantly on edge. He keeps threatening to contact me at work and cause problems. My employers gave me a panic button for my own safety.

"At my lowest point, I wanted to end my life — just to make it all stop."

In his police interview, Dowsey initially denied the allegation.

He had appeared in court in 2016 for a malicious communication against the same woman.

For Dowsey, Keith Verrinder said his client, a self-confessed alcoholic, wanted to retrieve his property, such as work tools, but she refused to give them to him.

"His head was all over the place, went to the lady's house and went about things the wrong way," said Mr Verrinder.

Magistrates followed a recommendation to hand Dowsey a year's probation, to include up to 15 rehabilitation sessions and complete 60 hours' unpaid work.

Dowsey was also made subject to a 12-month restraining order and was ordered to pay £85 costs and a £95 victim surcharge.