AN ALCOHOLIC who smashed up a man's home with a hammer after he learned of a rape allegation has been jailed.

Joe Gill, of Durley Chine Road in Bournemouth, made his victim's life "a misery", a court heard last week.

The defendant, 34, began a campaign of harassment against the man after being told that the victim had allegedly raped a woman.

No charges have yet been brought in connection with the allegation.

Prosecuting the case at Bournemouth Crown Court, Rob Welling said claims were made about a sexual assault in October 2015.

Gill began making threatening phone calls to the victim's workplace, leading to the man having to transfer to a different area.

The defendant was given a written warning by police.

However, in March of this year, he began to make the calls again, telling the victim: "I know where you live and I'm coming for you".

On March 24, he was told by the victim's workplace, after calling repeatedly, that he had gone home for the day.

The man was in fact still at work.

Gill then went to the victim's home with a hammer and broke in before smashing up a laptop, photographs and the TV.

He also caused damage in the kitchen.

"[Gill] indicated that if [the victim] had been in, he would have killed him," Mr Welling said.

The victim made a statement to police which was read out to the court.

"I feel like he has ruined my life," the man said.

"I feel like he's never going to leave me alone."

Brian Sharman, mitigating, said Gill left school with 13 GCSEs and worked as a bricklayer.

However, after the breakdown of a relationship, he became an alcoholic.

He was remanded into custody after being charged with the offences, but was released on bail by a court.

When family went to collect him from Southampton train station, the defendant was already drunk, Mr Sharman said.

"His alcohol abuse has reached the stage now where he occasionally fits," he added.

"The defendant feels incarceration will give him the chance to be away from drink."

Gill, who has one previous conviction for drink driving, admitted two counts of stalking and one of aggravated burglary during a previous court hearing.

He was sentenced to three years and four months in prison by Recorder Stephen Parish.