A MAN who subjected his former girlfriend to a campaign of terror threatened to break her mother's kneecaps.

Curtis Lankstead, who was jailed for 30 months at Bournemouth Crown Court on Friday (JAN 13), set up three Facebook pages and sent calls and texts from 12 different phones over the course of months of abuse and threats.

Prosecuting, Nicholas Robinson said the 29-year-old, who has a history of violent offences, was in a relationship with the woman which ended two years before the offending took place in Bournemouth between May and September last year.

"The underlying reason she felt compelled to end the relationship was the violence and controlling behaviour Mr Lankstead repeatedly regressed to exert upon her," he said.

He said Lankstead, of no fixed abode, had on two occasions stood in front of the victim's car hurling abuse and hitting the bonnet, causing traffic to back up behind her.

"She was in the car feeling increasingly embarrassed and afraid," he said.

On one occasion, the court heard, Lankstead went to the open window and tried to pull her out. When this failed, he spat in her face.

Messages he sent to her were read to the court. One said: "Ugly fat pig **** go die like your nan."

Another, after the victim had reported the abuse to the police, said: "If you don't drop it I'm going to break both your mum's kneecaps."

In mitigation, Kevin Hill said his client had been diagnosed with a dissocial personality disorder, and struggled with relationships, social norms and an "incapacity to experience guilt".

He said: "These characteristics form the basis of these offences."

Mr Hill said there were positive comments in the report from the probation service, including his "ambitions for his employment" and "personal interests and passions".

During the hearing, the defendant became agitated and had to be removed from the court by security staff, although he later returned to hear the sentence.

Lankstead admitted one count of putting a person in fear of violence by harassment, and another of witness intimidation. A restraining order was also made, preventing him contacting the victim indefinitely.

Sentencing, Judge Brian Forster QC said Lankstead's psychiatrist had expressed "concern your actions may escalate in the future".

"You threatened to kill her if she didn't drop the case," he said.

"What took place had an enormous impact on the victim."