A SOUTHAMPTON man caused hundreds of pounds of damage to his former girlfriend’s car after she had broken off their relationship.

Stephen Coleman, 24, smashed Mercedes Robinson’s windscreen, tore off wing mirrors and slashed her tyres.

He also ripped up the mother-of-two’s clothing which he left strewn around her car.

Prosecutor Audrey Archer told the city crown court how Coleman borrowed a friend’s car and drove to Basingstoke where Ms Robinson was staying with her former partner after they had reignited their relationship.

There he hurled a brick through the kitchen window and flung another at the bedroom window of her children but it did not break.

Ms Robinson later discovered the word “slut” scratched into the bonnet of her car. A large boulder had also been thrown through her boyfriend’s car which had just been repaired after a previous attack. However, the vandalism was captured by a security camera and he was arrested.

In a statement, the victim told police she estimated Coleman had caused about £8,000 damage to the car, an iphone and a digital camera.

The trouble had affected her life, work and family, caused her constant stress-related headaches and she had lost two stone in weight, the court heard.

Coleman, of Itchenside Close, Southampton, admitted stalking, causing damage and driving without insurance and a licence.

Recorder Michael Parroy QC said reconnaissance and observation had been required to carry out what he had done and the damage caused was substantial.

Jailing him for 32 months, he told Coleman: “It was persistent and there is no excuse for behaviour of this sort. The only thing which can be sent to your credit is that is that in the police interview you had admitted what had happened and you pleaded guilty.”

Coleman was also disqualified from driving for 12 months and under the terms of a restraining order must not contact Ms Robinson or go to the house in Basingstoke.

In mitigation, Stephen Tricker said Coleman found it difficult to understand his actions. “He was in an entirely emotional state and couldn’t understand why the relationship had come to an end. His time on remand has made him think hard about his life.”