An Essex man has been jailed after he called a woman around 10,000 times in just under two months and "loitered" outside her Newcastle-under-Lyme accommodation.

Zohaib Mehmood, 22, from Essex, was sentenced to two years in prison at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court yesterday (Tuesday 16 June).

He previously pleaded guilty to stalking involving serious alarm / distress, threatening to share photographs or film of a person in an intimate state and committing an act or series of acts with intent to pervert the course of justice.

Detective Constable Clare Horner, of the public protection unit, led the investigation. She said: "We worked hard to gather evidence against Mehmood which led to him admitting the offences in court.

"I would like to commend the bravery of the victim in coming forward and reporting what had happened to her, despite Mehmood's threats.

"We will continue to work hard to protect victims across Staffordshire."

Staffordshire Police said Mehmood called the victim, a woman, around 10,000 times between the start of September and end of October last year.

He also left her 600 voicemails and attempted to contact her through social media and email.

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Mehmood also travelled 180 miles from his home to the victim's university accommodation in Newcastle-under-Lyme on multiple occassions and "loitered outside".

A spokesperson for Staffordshire Police said: "The victim reported what had happened to her and we launched an investigation.

"Mehmood then threatened to share imitate photos of the victim with her family and repeatedly asked her to withdraw her complaint to us."

He was arrested shortly after and answered 'no comment' to all questions when he was interviewed in custody.