Ex-partner

“acting jealous” because of his new girlfriend.

The defendant was convicted of assault by beating, three counts of sending by electronic communications grossly offensive or indecent or malicious messages, two counts of criminal damage and one count of stalking.

Defence barrister Harry Baker said his client was somebody who had a “toxic relationship” with the complainant.

He said: “As many women do, she keeps going back to him. It’s not easy for young people to resolve difficult relationships and neither side can sort out how they’re going to resolve this relationship, which has now been resolved because he has been convicted. It’s motivated by this toxic relationship rather than a genuine desire to be violent.”

Sentencing, Judge Richard Williams said: “Your relationship became toxic and you behaved in a bad tempered and petulant way.

“The evening you had planned in Swansea became a nightmare as far as she was concerned and you behaved dreadfully on the way back to Cardiff.

“You then pestered her over a significant period of time and paid her unwanted attention, made a false allegation against her, sent text messages to her and her family members which were grossly offensive, threatening and frightening.”

McCarthy was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment and was made subject to a restraining order for five years.