MONTHS of harrowing phone calls left a woman fearing for her sanity, a court heard.Ipswich Crown Court heard Darren Welham, of Geneva Road, Ipswich, bombarded ex-partner Sandra Senior with threatening calls and text messages.

MONTHS of harrowing phone calls left a woman fearing for her sanity, a court heard.

Ipswich Crown Court heard Darren Welham, of Geneva Road, Ipswich, bombarded ex-partner Sandra Senior with threatening calls and text messages.

He also subjected her to dozens of silent calls amid a month-long campaign of harassment.

Duncan O'Donnell, prosecuting, told the court the campaign had been going on for much longer. His bombardment of September last year was taken for a sample charge.

He said when first arrested, 31-year-old Welham had denied all knowledge, but later admitted the crime.

Magistrates imposed a restriction order after Welham admitted harassment, but he was called to the crown court for repeated breaches.

The court heard the Ipswich man had convictions dating back to 1991 and was drinking up to 30 pints a day during his break-up from Mrs Senior.

Jude Durr, mitigating, said Welham began his campaign after the break-up from his partner became acrimonious.

He said: "The calls were born of frustration and anger rather than malice."

Mr Durr told the court his client had now formed a new stable and loving relationship with another woman and was only drinking sociably.

But Judge John Holt rejected Mr Durr's assertion the short length of the phone calls lessened their effect.

In imposing a 100-hour community punishment and ordering a 12-month community rehabilitation order, Judge Holt warned Welham he would be sent to prison if the campaign started again.

A 12-month restriction order was re-imposed and Welham was ordered to pay costs of £583.