A MAN dumped by his girlfriend when she discovered he was married with children began stalking her.

Blackburn magistrates heard Mohammed Karim bombarded her with up to 100 phone calls a day and threatened to reveal intimate photographs of her to her family.

The victim blocked his mobile but he started using other phones and calling members of her family.

Karim, 33, of Hareden Brook Close, Blackburn, admitted stalking between July and October 2019.

He was made subject to a community order for two years with 15 days’ rehabilitation activity requirement and 80 hours unpaid work, and a restraining order for three years which prohibits him from having any contact with the victim or posting or distributing any information relating to her.

Imposing the order, Deputy District Judge Phil Barnes told Karim that breach of the order carried a sentence of up to five years in prison.

“She feared not just for her safety but also for her reputation in the community,” said the judge. “I am not ordering any compensation because I am sure she will not have to think about you ever again.”

Tracy Yates, prosecuting, said the woman had been in a relationship with Karim for about a year when she was told that he had a wife and children she wasn’t aware of.

During their time together he started becoming controlling, dictating what she wore and demanding to know where she was going.

“He demanded photographs of her in the morning so he could see what she was wearing,” he would tell her to change what she was wearing and remove make-up before leaving the house.

“She had to tell him exactly where she was going.”

Mrs Yates said after the victim was told about Karim’s wife and children she confronted him and he eventually admitted the truth.

“She ended the relationship and was then repeatedly contacted by him,” said Mrs Yates. “She made it clear she wanted him to leave her alone.”

Mrs Yates said when Karim threatened to send the intimate photographs to her family the victim was terrified.

“She is a Muslim woman and it would have been extremely detrimental if her family had found out,” said Mrs Yates.

“She was already having a difficult time as she was divorced and living as a single parent.

“She contacted the police as a last resort because she was extremely concerned about what he would do.”

Andrew Nottingham, defending, said his client had been placed on bail in October and there had been no breaches or contact with the aggrieved.

“He has no objection to a restraining order."