A FATHER-of-two who harassed the Sussex police and crime commissioner has been given a last chance to avoid jail.

Matthew Taylor, from Brighton, was handed a suspended four-month jail term on Monday.

He posted content online which was "extremely distressing" for Katy Bourne, 53, and Mark Streater, her office's chief executive.

One piece he published was "extremely unpleasant", said Judge Simon Monty at Central London County Court.

Mrs Bourne and Mr Streater sought an injunction against Mr Taylor. And, in April last year, a court order was issued banning him from posting material online about the pair.

Mr Taylor was also ordered to take all reasonable steps to remove material which was already online.

On October 15 – at a hearing Taylor did not attend – Judge Monty found him in breach of the court order. But he delayed imposing any sanction on him, so he could have the chance to come to court and explain himself.

At Monday's hearing, Fiona Barton, for Mrs Bourne and Mr Streater, said that the "offending posts have not all been removed from the internet".

Their "primary concern is to have this material removed from the internet permanently and quickly", she added.

James Higbee, for Mr Taylor argued that any jail term should be suspended.

He has young children, is of good character, has suffered with anxiety and has concerns about his mental health, the court heard.

But he had been on a "self-destructive path".

A suspended sentence "may well give him the final push to really distance himself from whatever this was", he told the judge.

Judge Monty said: "The only appropriate course for the court to take is to impose a custodial sentence."

But he gave Mr Taylor a "last chance" by suspending the four-month jail term for two years.