A stalker who left his victim too afraid to open her front door told her 'at least I never put my fist through your face'.

Daniel Allen, 33, of Fearnhead Close, Farnworth, subjected his ex-partner to seven months of stalking between December 11, 2021, to June 23, 2022.

Preston Crown Court heard that after their break up, Allen sent his victim abusive messages, turning up at her house and harassing her in the street whilst she was at work.

Sarah Macgill, prosecuting, said Allen and the victim had been in an on-and-off relationship, but in 2020 she ended the relationship, resulting in the defendant becoming abusive.

When the victim began a new relationship, Allen told her he "wanted notice" if she started dating someone so he could "vet" them.

On one occasion Allen visited his victim, and she asked him to leave but he refused, and she felt unable to leave the house.

As she went to her bedroom to get away from him, Allen ranted: "At least I never put my fist through your face.

"Most men would have f***ing mullered you, they really would."

His victim recorded a 10-minute rant where Allen called her a number of other abusive names such as "slag" and a "disgrace" after which she was too afraid to leave the room as he was outside the door.

Over the following months, Allen sent multiple abusive messages over a number of different platforms, including on a public Facebook page.

In a victim personal statement, the woman said: "It has literally consumed my life.

"I should feel safe in my own home but now my life is a constant reminder of how he makes me feel.

"I return home and I lock the doors, put the chains on and close the blinds. Each time there is a knock at the front door that I don't expect, I physically freeze.

"My whole body starts to shake and I find myself standing there in fear of who it could be on the other side.

"I am generally scared of Danny and what his next actions could be. He has progressively got worse and I really do not know where or when this will end.

"During the investigation he has approached me [at work] and intimidated me and verbally abused me.

"If he has the mentality to do that... then I dread to think what he could do to me when out alone or with my children.

"I am always on edge and looking around me when I am out, in case Danny is there. This impacts massively on my life. Even a quick visit to the shops or going to the gym has become an effort.

"I used to be a very happy, chatty and outgoing girl but now I'm a figment of the woman I used to be.

"He wore me down over years and mentally and physically drained the life out of me until I wasn't me anymore. I found myself doing everything I could to keep him happy and lived like I was walking on eggshells.

"I would class myself as a strong and respectable woman who has seen and dealt with many difficult situations in my job role and there is very little in life that bothers me. I can honestly say I have never felt as scared, on edge and anxious about an individual."

Allen pleaded guilty to stalking three days before his trial was due to begin.

In mitigation, Huw Edwards, said the defendant suffers from mental health conditions such as ADHD and from substance abuse, and also cares for his brother.

Recorder Katherine Jones sentenced Allen to 22 months imprisonment, suspended for two years, and he was given a 10-year restraining order relating to the victim.