A WEST Cumbrian man who told his former partner she should kill herself has been tagged.

Paul Michael William Lowrey, 23, of Rutland Avenue, Whitehaven, admitted three counts of sending offensive and menacing messages.

He appeared at North and West Cumbria Magistrates Court on Friday, where he was handed a six-month community order with a requirement to abide by a four-month curfew, preventing him from leaving his address between 8pm and 7am.

The court heard that Lowrey and his former partner had split up at the end of last year by mutual agreement and had remained in touch afterwards. The messages were sent during three days in February following an argument between the pair.

David Thompson, defending, said Lowrey had lent some money to his former partner at her request, and the following day she told him she was seeing someone else, which upset Lowrey.

Diane Jackson, prosecuting, said Lowrey sent messages demanding his money back, but included insults, body-shaming remarks and he also told his victim she should do herself a favour and kill herself on several occasions.

Mrs Jackson said the victim felt the messages were particularly cruel, considering Lowrey knows she suffers from mental health problems.

Mr Thompson told magistrates that Lowrey had no previous convictions. He added Lowrey wasn't normally a jealous or obsessive person, but learning the complainant was seeing another man after lending her money, "unbalanced him temporarily."

"He was angry, he was emotional and upset," said Mr Thompson. He added Lowrey stopped sending the messages of his own volition, before he knew police had been called.

Mr Thompson said: "He feels immense shame, he told me he massively regrets the way he responded, he showed genuine remorse and this was out of character for him."

As well as the community order, Lowrey must pay £85 costs and £85 victim surcharge.