A spurned lover who harassed his ex-girlfriend with more than 70 text messages in two days has avoided jail.

Ian Kempson, of Vanquish House, Twickenham, sent the messages on July 28 and 29 to his ex-girlfriend after she broke the relationship off.

The 30-year-old, who admits having an alcohol problem, was drinking when he sent most of the messages, which were of a sexually explicit nature.

Prosecuting, Remi Ogunfowora told Lavender Hill Magistrates’ Court that on July 29, Kempson went to his ex’s flat at about 7am to speak to her, but she had left for work about 20 minutes earlier.

He then hurled abuse at her 67-year-old neighbour while holding a can of alcohol, at one point telling him he would “do his face in”, the court heard.

The neighbour called the police, who discovered Kempson in his ex-girlfriend’s flat “intoxicated and swaying” after damaging her front door.

He told officers he was “too smashed to remember” what had happened, but said he did not think he would have shouted at the neighbour.

Defending, Kim Elcoate May said: “He wants me to convey to the court he’s deeply remorseful for these actions.”

He said the relationship, which had been on and off since 2009, broke down due to his alcohol problems and that he was also not allowed to see his nine-year-old and 12-year-old children due to his drinking.

Miss Elcoate May said: “This is a wake-up call to him that he cannot continue to act in this way.”

He was sentenced on August 20 to 12 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months.

Sentencing him, chairman of magistrates Clare Horn said: “We found the matter of harassment without violence so serious due to the nature and number of texts and the domestic violence context that only custody is appropriate.”

The sentence was suspended under the condition he abides to a supervision requirement of 12 months and takes part in a six month alcohol treatment programme.

He must also pay £100 compensation to Richmond Housing Partnership, which owns the flats.