A STALKER has been jailed after he sent 130 messages and made 50 phone calls in one day to a woman he met on a dating site.

David Watman, 39, met the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, on an online dating website in April.

But the stalker, of Priors Leaze Lane, Nutbourne, began to obsess over her and stalk her.

Watman suggested people were coming to “get her” and said he was always watching her.

He sent dozens of messages and made incessant phone calls. On one day the woman received 130 messages and 50 phone calls from him.

The Argus: Watman sent incessant messages to his victimWatman sent incessant messages to his victim

But she reported his behaviour to the police and Watman was arrested.

At Portsmouth Crown Court on May 11 he pleaded guilty to stalking. And on Tuesday he was sentenced to two years in prison.

Sussex Police Detective Constable Jason Berney commended the woman’s bravery for reporting Watman to the police.

“Stalking can be incredibly traumatic for victims and can have a long-term psychological impact,” he said.

“This has been difficult for Watman’s victim, who has been brave in coming forward to the police and reporting it.

“We hope she can feel safer knowing he has been jailed for this crime. We take stalking incredibly seriously.”