A MAN whose "relentless" stalking caused his ex-girlfriend to move house has avoided jail.

Benjamin Mortimer, of Davies Road, sent his victim around 1,900 emails between March 1 and August 25, 2023, after she ended their relationship in 2022.

One instance, between 11.40am and 6.14pm on June 20, saw the 27-year-old send 75 emails, roughly one every six minutes.

Mortimer was found guilty of harassment that amounted to stalking at a Salisbury Magistrates Court trial on October 30 where his victim said the content of the messages was "quite disgusting, threatening, sexual and persuasive".

"They were hard to understand, scary and strange," she said from behind a protective screen.

Read more: 'Oppressive' Benjamin Mortimer found guilty of stalking

There was a large age gap between the defendant and victim, she was 45 when they entered into a relationship in 2021.

Salisbury Journal: Benjamin Mortimer was relentless and oppressive.Benjamin Mortimer was relentless and oppressive. (Image: Salisbury Journal)

Charles Nightingale, prosecuting, said that because of this the victim wanted a "short relationship rather than anything long-term".

Six months in, Mortimer got "very drunk" at Christmas and became verbally abusive, making "unreasonable sexual demands", so the victim ended the relationship on Boxing Day 2021.

She went on to explain how Mortimer constantly called her and turned up at her home unannounced before she finally ended the relationship indefinitely in November 2022.

Mr Nightingale said: "She found the messages more concerning and distressing as he began to refer to her child and become even more aggressive.

"When someone is relentless and won’t stop it has an impact. She has changed her address.

"The lady makes the point that she simply wants the defendant to leave her alone and not communicate with her."

The victim eventually blocked her ex-boyfriend, reported him to Wiltshire Police and officers told Mortimer to stop contacting her on June 29, 2023.

Paul Smith, mitigating, said Mortimer is known to the court but not for similar convictions. He said: "The situation is that he had been together with this lady who is now 47 years old. There was a considerable age gap."

Mr Smith claimed the victim did not give his client a reason for ending the relationship.

Salisbury Journal: Mortimer described probation as a waste of time.Mortimer described probation as a waste of time. (Image: Salisbury Journal)

The court heard how Mortimer failed to cooperate with the probation service when completing a pre-sentencing report.

"Probation thought he didn't take the report seriously. He is someone who finds it difficult to communicate about sensitive matters. He would take the attitude that the relationship is between the lady and himself.

"He’s a young man who doesn’t play the game. He doesn’t say the things that people want to hear," Mr Smith added.

District Judge Pattinson said Mortimer's actions caused "some distress" and imposed a three-month curfew preventing him from leaving his home between 8pm and 6am at a hearing on Monday, December 18.

Mortimer was also sentenced to a 12-month community order and ordered to pay 314 in costs.

A 12-month restraining order was also put in place to protect the victim.