A jealous ex-boyfriend created fake social media profiles so he could hound his former girlfriend about who she was 'sleeping with.'
Steven Thorley, 39, bombarded his ex-partner with over 3,000 messages in the space of a month during a terrifying stalking campaign.
He also smashed his way into her home, and followed her on the school run, demanding to know if she'd moved on.
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The woman said she was left feeling 'suicidal' after fearing that Thorley's harassment would never come to an end.
Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court heard that the couple had been together for around six years, and that Thorley would often show jealous behaviour.
In 2017 he strangled her around the neck before placing her into a cold bath fully clothed.
Prosecutor, Lisa Boocock, told the court that when she woke up the following morning, she noticed there were marks on her face.
"When she went to the hospital she gave nurses the full account of what had happened," Ms Boocock said.
"She had bruising to the left side of her neck, swelling to the jaw and bruising on her arm."
The court heard that the victim did not support a prosecution against Thorley at this time, after claims he was putting pressure on her about access to their children.
They eventually split up in March last year, with Thorley said to have taken the break up badly.
"He made fake social media profiles to ask her if she was in a new relationship," Ms Boocock told the court.
"On May 2, 2021, he messaged her asking her to talk. He started asking her if she was with anyone.
"At 10.30pm that night he started knocking at her door. She refused to let him in.
"He said he would climb on to the roof and smash the window which she didn’t believe he would but he did so. He came into the house and when police were called he left."
The court heard that on June 13, Thorley stood outside her flat waiting for her to return home in the early hours of the morning, before smashing her bedroom window.
In a victim impact statement, the woman said: "I don't feel like there is an end in sight. I am scared to leave the house.
"I am scared to open the window to the flat.
"I want to move on with my life but Steven won’t let me. I block him but he finds a way to contact me.
"It worries me because he doesn’t seem to be giving up."
Between May 2 and June 15 last year, the court heard that Thorley attempted to contact the victim 3,000 times - often messaging or calling her 100 times a day.
"On June 10 he came to her flat and climbed on the roof," Ms Boocock said.
"He then left saying he was going to kill her and him - referring to her supposed partner.
"On June 14 she left to pick up her son from school and the defendant followed her and took hold of her. The next day he approached her on the school run again asking if she was sleeping with anyone."
Thorley was arrested and released under investigation in June, and a non-molestation order was made.
However, the court heard this only prevented him from approaching the victim, not from contacting her.
There was a stop to the harassment until September, when Thorley approached her and followed her - begging to know who she had been sleeping with.
"He told her if she ever loved him she would retract her allegations to the police," Ms Boocock told the court.
Thorley was arrested in October and told police that the victim had 'made everything up' to get back at him for cheating on her.
He later pleaded guilty to assault, two counts of criminal damage, stalking with fear of violence and witness intimidation.
The court heard that Thorley has multiple previous convictions for violence against women in a domestic setting.
Defending, Milena Bennett said: " An immediate custodial sentence would not serve a purpose. Nothing is going to stop the defendant contacting the complainant after leaving custody.
"I would invite the court to consider the alternative options. The probation service has offered an alternative two-year community order."
Thorley, of Stonemill Terrace, Stockport was jailed for 21 months and made subject to a restraining order not to contact the victim upon his release from prison.
Sentencing, Judge Maurice Green said: "You made her life unbearable for a great deal of time. Only custody can be justified.
"You have had numerous chances in the past and failed to take them."
