A BRADFORD man was today jailed for two and a half years for a violent stalking campaign against his ex-partner.

Lee Terry, 25, assaulted the woman, smashed windows at her home and continually threatened her - urging others to intimidate her and damage her car while he was in prison.

Terry, of Ringwood Road, Little Horton, pleaded guilty to stalking to cause fear, between June 11 and August 31 last year, seven breaches of a non molestation order and attempting to pervert the course of justice, Prosecutor Chris Moran told Bradford Crown Court today Terry's victim described their relationship as "horrible and controlling."

After the couple split up, Terry jumped a fence into her neighbour's garden on June 13 and punched and kicked her.

Three days later, he went round to her home and attacked her again.

The following day, he punched her, pulled at her clothing and laughed before driving off.

On June 18, a non molestation order was made but the next day, Terry kicked the woman's car and shouted at her.

A neighbour called the police and he was arrested and bailed.

Terry struck again four times in August, smashing a plant pot, banging on the door and smashing windows.

Mr Moran said he was re-arrested and while on remand in prison he rang his associates offering to pay £20 for someone to intimidate the woman and damage her car.

He urged a man to "pay a smack head from Holme Wood" to "smother the full car."

Terry also threatened from jail: "I'm going to smash her head in when I get out."

Mr Moran said the woman's car was damaged at that time but the Crown could not say by whom or why.

"Clearly this is a prolonged course of stalking, involving violence, intimidation and fear," Mr Moran told the court.

Terry's barrister, Giles Bridge, said the couple's relationship was tempestuous and the woman had seriously assaulted the defendant in the past.

"He recognises that the relationship has been very bad for both of them," Mr Bridge said.

Terry had been in custody for seven months and he wanted no further contact with the victim.

The court heard that the victim did not want a restraining order against Terry and she had declined to make a victim personal statement, telling the police "she just wanted to put it all behind her."

Judge David Hatton QC said: "This was a course of conduct against (the woman) involving threats, violence and intimidation, and encouraging others to do likewise while you were in prison."

Terry's jail sentence included an offence of stealing stone flagstones in Halifax on May 20 last year.