A woman left fake 'rat' reviews on her ex's pizza van site and accused him of being a drug dealer as part of a four-month long stalking campaign.
Between May 31 and September 30 last year, Gemma Proud harassed her victim with “excessive” messages, emails and phone calls, a court heard.
Proud, 37, even told her ex's mother that she would "send him to jail", as well as contacting other family members, friends and employees.
On his pizza van's Facebook page, she left fake views claiming it had a rat infestation and had given her food poisoning, reports Chronicle Live.
Proud also told the victim's business associates that he was a "wife beater" and informed a football team that he sponsored that he was "an ex prisoner and drug dealer", Newcastle Crown Cout heard
Prosecutor Claire Anderson said Proud, of Bede Walk, Hebburn, Tyne and Wear, “would contact [the victim] excessively, often when drunk”.
She told the court: “On June 5 he contacted police after [Proud] contacted his mother with abusive messages saying she would send him to jail.
“She contacted his business associates and told them he was a ‘wife beater,’ which caused difficulty in his business relationships.
“[Proud] left messages on his business Facebook page saying he had been charged with domestic violence and that he was a w*****.”
During this time, Proud would turn up at the victim's pizza van, take pictures of the vehicle and threaten to report him to environmental health.
She also contacted the landlord of a pub where his food stall was due to be parked, claiming he was a "wife beater".
Proud also accused him of having several affairs, even sending abusive messages to one of the people she claimed was involved.
Ms Anderson said: “A local football team [the victim] sponsored said someone had got in touch with them saying he was an ex prisoner and drug dealer who owned a shotgun.”
In his first victim impact statement, the complainant said he was “really worried about Gemma’s behaviour” and that it was “having a negative impact on my business”.
In a second statement, he said: “I have been through the worst 12 months of my life, but I believe Gemma has done enough to herself without me adding to her plight.
"Alcohol destroys lives [...] The person I fell in love with was not capable of abusing or stalking me.
“What she did was out of character, she wanted to hurt me. I hope you will show her some leniency.
“With the right support she can turn her life around and be the person I know she can be.”
Proud pleaded guilty to stalking.
Sam Faulks, defending, said at the time of the offending, Proud was a functioning alcoholic and “not resilient”.
She had since gone into rehab, the court heard.
Judge Robert Spragg sentenced Proud to four months in jail, suspended for 18 months.
She was also sentenced to a three month curfew requiring her to stay in between 10pm and 6am and must carry out an alcohol treatment programme and 25 days of rehabilitation activity.
