An Ely man who stalked his former partner until she had to move house and lost her job has been spared jail.

Ian Ring, 50, of Lisle Lane, pleaded guilty at Cambridge Crown Court to stalking Rosamund Scott and to criminally damaging a house.

The court was told that he did not know she had already moved out when he threw paint at the doors and windows.

Recorder Jeremy Benson QC imposed a six month prison sentence on Ring, but suspended it for two years.

He also made an indefinite restraining order preventing Ring from contacting Ms Scott, her children or grandchildren either directly or indirectly.

The court was told today that he does not know where she is now living.

Ring also admitted possessing 2.7g of cannabis, found by police at his home after he was arrested.

In addition to the suspended sentence the judge also ordered that he must undergo an alcohol treatment programme for 12 sessions and attend 15 rehabilitation activity days.

On top of that Ring was fined a total of £100 and ordered to pay £500 compensation to Ms Scott and £50 to the new resident of the house in New Barns Road, Ely, for the paint damage caused in January this year.

He was ordered to pay £300 prosecution costs.

As he passed sentence the judge told Ring: “From April 2015 you behaved towards an ex-partner in a way which caused her a huge amount of grief.

“As a result of your behaviour she said she ‘lived with fear’, she couldn’t live a normal life anymore.

“She said ‘I feel sick whenever I enter Ely because I might see Ian. I have lost my job, cannot work on the Sunday market anymore and had to change my car and move house’.

“You have caused her severe grief,” added the judge. But he said immediate custody would cause stress to Ring’s mentally ill son so he was suspending the sentence.

The court was told that Ring and Ms Scott were together for five years before they split up.

Ring accepted that between April and November last year he verbally abused her, put superglue in her locks, sent an abusive email, posted earrings through the door with an abusive note, and would often knock on her door when drunk.

He further accepted they had an altercation in Market Square, Ely when they met by chance.

Prosecutor Thomas Brown said Ring found it difficult to accept that the relationship had ended and was very upset about it.

Mitigating, Melanie Benn said the former scaffolder hoped to get a new job shortly and accepted he should pay Ms Scott compensation.

She continued : “Often men in this situation portray themselves as victims and are unable to see the other side of the story.

“He has accepted the fear and distress which he has put her under.

“He has been extremely stupid. He has not behaved like that since this prosecution.”