A woman suffered panic attacks after her ex-boyfriend bombarded her with calls and messages while on a restraining order.

Elliott Shane Vowles acted 'as if no order existed', making contact with his ex on multiple occasions between August and September last year; attending her home address, sending her numerous messages on social media and meeting her at a nightclub.

In one incident, the victim discovered a teddy bear belonging to Vowles on her doorstep, which he had left there at 5am, according to CCTV.

In another, he sent her a TikTok video they had made while still together.

Prosecutor solicitor Kaja Reiff-Musgrove said: “The behaviour has left the complaint feeling stressed and anxious. She was having panic attacks, her anxiety was extreme and she couldn’t sleep for months.”

The court also heard that the victim was restless at night, listening out for noises in fear that he would repeat his repeated attempts to contact her.

Vowles, now of Milton Road in Southampton but a Westbury resident at the time, was previously ordered by the courts not to contact his former partner or go to her address after he was convicted of harassing her.

But Swindon Crown Court heard he broke this order, before breaking it again on these instances.

Claire Gooding defending said: “The defendant has been living at a bail hostel since November and during that time he has been subject to a daily curfew overnight every night and also a GPS tag.

“He has complied with all those conditions as well as the bail hostel conditions and they have confirmed very positively that he has engaged as well as they could have asked for.”

Gooding also said that the 20-year-old is hoping to go to university in September this year.

She described how his mindset had “completely changed”, that he is “moving forward”, and he no longer desires to contact the victim.

“He accepts his behaviour was naïve and extremely immature,” she said.

Having pleaded guilty to six counts of harassment, Vowles was given an 18-month suspended sentence, and an indefinite restraining order put in place.

He must take part in a 12-month mental health treatment requirement and 15 rehabilitation activity days, as well as the building better relationships programme.

Sentencing, Recorder David Chidgey said: “As a result of the way you behaved, you have combined criminal convictions that will be with you for the rest of your life.”

But he took into account his early guilty pleas and the fact it was his first relationship.

He also had some words of wisdom for Vowles.

“It’s time for you to move on from this relationship completely.

"This woman doesn’t exist to you. Don’t look her up on the internet, to do so would just make it harder for you.”