A supermarket worker who bombarded his ex-girlfriend with terrifying text messages and phone calls was given a 12 week suspended sentence.

Gwion Wyn Jones, of Maes Dyfi, Machynlleth, admitted sending threatening texts and a further charge of harassment during a hearing at Welshpool Magistrates Court on Tuesday, July 20.

The court was told how Jones, aged 30, contacted his ex girlfriend more than five hundred times in just three days and also sent threats to other family members following the breakdown of his relationship.

Ms Helen Tench, prosecuting, said the defendant had been in a six-month relationship with one of the victims which broke down in December last year.

However when the relationship ended, the victim said she had been called or texted by the defendant more than 500 times in a three day period between December 11 and December 14.

The texts became abusive, containing foul language and at once point the defendant had said "I've got your address, I'll make your life hell" and "You shouldn't give you address out because I will track that address down believe me."

He added: "I will kill you, and your family."

He subsequently made contact with members of his ex-girlfriend's family on facebook where he had made abusive threats to other members of the victim's family.

In a victim impact statement read out to the court, his victim said the experience with the defendant had made her "lose confidence", and left her with trust issues.

"His violent and harassing behaviour towards me was unprovoked and out of order, and it was impossible to reason with him," she said.

Mr Robert Hanratty, defending, said his client had suffered considerably with his mental health during the lockdown period which had led to his "irrational behaviour."

He said his client had suffered with alcohol problems and the defendant recognised that he had been "rather foolish", and said Jones "very much regretted it".

Magistrates sentenced Jones to eight weeks in prison for the harassment offence, and a further four weeks for threatening texts, suspended for two years.

He was also subject to a restraining order set for two years, and ordered to pay £85 costs and a victim surcharge of £128.

He was also ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work, and to complete 10 rehabilitation activities.