Jilted Exeter lover spared jail over abusive sex texts

A jilted lover who bombarded his ex-girlfriend with abusive and sexually-explicit calls and texts has been spared jail.

Ben Jervis, 31, from Exeter, Devon, admitted harassing and stalking the victim after she ended their "volatile" 15-month relationship.

Exeter Magistrates were told the woman was "sick and shocked" by the violent and insulting nature of the texts.

Jervis was ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid community work.

The court was told Jervis continually turned up at his ex-girlfriend's home and workplace after their relationship ended last May.

Neil Lawson, prosecuting, said: "He bombarded her with 450 mobile phone text messages and 200 phone calls over a five-day period.

"The texts were of a violent and insulting sexual nature, very derogatory about her physically which made her feel sick and shocked."

When he saw the woman with a male friend, Jervis sent her a text threatening to "cave his face in".

During a two-hour interview with police, Miss Davis received 40 phone calls and five texts.

When arrested Jervis admitted the sexual texts were "disgusting, disgraceful and horrible".

Mr Jeremy Tricks, defending, said Jervis was "a broken man who lost control of his emotions and acted out of character".

Ordering him to carry out a community order with 150 hours of unpaid work, magistrates told Jervis: "You have recognised that this was more than stupid"