IPSWICH: An Ipswich man who carried out a “campaign of fear and threats” against a woman which left her scared to return to her home has been jailed for 15 months.

Matthew Lewis, 28, demanded money from Maxine Howard and then over a three-day period in January made threatening telephone calls to her, left threatening messages and followed her, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

Jailing Lewis, Ipswich Crown Court judge Rupert Overbury said Lewis accepted that although he hadn’t made any overt threats the overall context of his behaviour would have caused Mrs Howard to fear violence. “Over a three day period in January this year you carried out a campaign of fear and threats towards Mrs Howard and her family,” said the judge.

In addition to jailing Lewis Judge Overbury made him the subject of an indefinite restraining order banning him from contacting Mrs Howard or her family and from going to Main Road or Montana Road, Kesgrave after hearing Mrs Howard had been too scared to return to her home in the weeks following the harassment.

Lewis, of Foxhall Road, Ipswich admitted putting a person in fear of violence by harassment between January 26-29.

Patricia Doggett, prosecuting, said Mrs Howard had a son Ryan who was said to owe Lewis and his associates around �500.

After his arrest on January 31 Lewis said he had bumped into someone who had spoken to him about collecting money allegedly owed by Mrs Howard’s son.

Neil Saunders for Lewis said his client had a troubled background and had come to Ipswich to make a clean start.

He said Lewis regretted becoming involved in the offence and in a letter to the court expressed that regret to Mrs Howard.