A MAN who carried out a campaign of harassment on his partner days after he was accused of assaulting her has been spared jail.

Alan Reed, of no fixed abode, was released by police under investigation in March after allegations of assault.

Just two days later on March 10 he turned up at his partner’s Faringdon home and began shouting and hurling abuse at her in front of a number of young children.

Oxford Crown Court heard at his sentencing on Friday how the 45-year old became abusive and angrily demanded the return of his stereo before eventually leaving the scene.

Not content to leave it that, the court heard, Reed continued to turn up to the address and hurl obscenities at her, repeatedly demanding the return of a stereo, on a number of occasions.

Reed also became jealous at other men at the property and on one instance accused a police officer who was at the house investigating the ongoing harassment of being involved with the woman, and asking him to come out for a fight.

The officer declined the invitation, the court heard, but offered to come out and arrest him instead.

Reed was later taken into custody when he was later found by officers at a hotel in Swindon and charged with harassment which he admitted.

In mitigation Steven Molloy said that the victim, despite the abuse, was in fact determined to ‘rekindle’ the relationship and was willing to take Reed back.

He added that his client was ‘sorry’ for his actions and said that they were largely motivated by wanting to reclaim his beloved stereo which was still at the house.

Sentencing, Judge Ian Pringle QC said: “You behaved quite abysmally in front of children who became quite upset. Over the next two weeks you confronted your partner and made threats to her and her new partner.

“That sort of behaviour used to be treated as a nuisance, it is a lot more than that and it is extremely serious.

“However you have been in custody quite a number of weeks and I am going to give you one last chance.”

For the single count of harassment he was given a 10-month jail term, suspended for two years.

He was also made subject to a community order to include 30 days participation in the Building Better Relationships program and 15 days rehabilitation activity requirement.