A LIFEGUARD who terrorised his former girlfriend with a campaign of death threats and harassment has been jailed.

York Crown Court heard it was the third time Simon Andrew Fletcher had made problems for ex-partners or their relatives.

Rob Galley, prosecuting, said Fletcher's latest relationship broke down just weeks after it began in December 2015. He responded by constantly visiting the shop where she works and then sent her numerous text messages alternating threats to kill her with protestations of love.

At the time, he was subject to a suspended prison sentence for harassing another woman by Facebook messages and visiting the shop where she works, and breaching a restraining order imposed to protect a third woman from his attentions.

Jailing him for a year, Recorder Tahir Khan QC said of his harassment of his latest girlfriend: "You became paranoid, accusing her of being unfaithful, you made threats to kill her, you made a nuisance of yourself by going to the shop where she was working. She was clearly upset by these threats you made against her."

Fletcher, 26, of Tennant Street, Acomb, denied harassment but was convicted by York magistrates who sent him to York Crown Court for sentence.

In addition to the 12-month sentence, Fletcher was made subject to a second restraining order banning him from contacting his latest victim. The first one remains in force.

For him, Alex Menary said as a child Fletcher had seen domestic violence and had been thrown out of the family home when he was 14. Despite that he had qualified as a lifeguard, he worked in the construction industry on roads and railways and wanted to study maths at university on his release from jail.

He appreciated that he had problems with his temper and that his most recent relationship was now at an end.

Mr Galley said Fletcher made the text messages between November 15 and November 18, 2016, and also phoned his latest girlfriend.

On February 3, when they convicted Fletcher, York magistrates ordered him to serve the 22-week prison sentence suspended by their colleagues for the earlier harassment and breach of a restraining order. The 12-month sentence will be served concurrently.