A STALKER has been jailed after being abusive to his former partner and stealing a car.

Daniel Rawlins caused “serious alarm and distress” to Erika Guppy at Wick near Littlehampton last year.

The 44-year-old admitted seven offences at Worthing Magistrates’ Court after incidents on December 22 last year.

The court was told his behaviour had an “adverse effect” on Ms Guppy’s usual day-to-day life.

He had repeatedly contacted her in person and over the phone, and had been abusive, asking her about her personal plans.

On the same day he admitted assaulting Raimondas Bladzinauskas and taking a car from the address.

He was found by police to be more than three times over the drink-drive limit, with 106 microgrammes (mcg) of alcohol per 100 millilitres (ml) of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg per 100ml.

Previously he had already been banned for 18 months for drink-driving in August, when he was more than double the legal limit.

Rawlins, of New England Street, Brighton, was sentenced to ten weeks in prison for stalking, and was banned from driving for two years and 11 months.

Magistrates also imposed concurrent prison sentences of two weeks for the attack on Mr Bladzinauskas, and two weeks for stealing the car.

He was put under a restraining order not to contact Ms Guppy or go to her address, and was ordered to pay £115 for a victim surcharge.