A serial stalker who bombarded a Carlisle woman with more than 100 phone calls in 24 hours has been jailed.

The woman who is the most recent victim of Bryan Stubbs, 61, told police that his behaviour towards her – which came after a failed two month relationship – was part of a six year ordeal he had put her through.

Stubbs, formerly of Manor Place, Upperby, but now homeless, admitted flouting an indefinite restraining order that banned him from contacting the woman and stalking her.

Gerard Rogerson, prosecuting, said Stubbs had been in a brief relationship with the woman during the latter part of 2013. He was later jailed for harassing her. The court at that time imposed an indefinite restraining order which banned him from having any contact at all with the woman.

The defendant’s latest offences related to phone calls he made on Sunday, August 30.

Throughout that day, while the woman was at work and then later when she got home, Stubbs made dozens of calls. “By 7pm, in total, there were 97 missed calls,” said Mr Rogerson. There were also voicemail messages, including one where Stubbs told the woman to call him.

There were four further calls after the woman called the police.

Even on the following day, Stubbs made a further ten calls, including one which was answered by the police officer who was taking the woman’s statement. “Stubbs asked who it was and the officer told him it was the police and the call ended there,” said Mr Rogerson.

Describing the impact on the woman, Mr Rogerson quoted from her statement.

“She described how from 2014, when the issues first started, til the present, she’s felt as if she’s always had to watch over her shoulder; she doesn’t sleep well any more,” said the lawyer. “She says that a two month relationship has given way to six years in which Mr Stubbs has caused nothing but unnecessary problems.”

The woman said: “I want all this to stop.”

Whenever he is released from prison, the court heard, the woman becomes anxious and her heart races and she suffers yet more sleepless nights.

Mr Rogerson outlined previous similar offences that Stubbs committed against another woman.

Tariq Khawam, for Stubbs, said: “He wasn’t trying to conceal his identity and he used his own phone. He made full admissions to that fact and made it clear that he never intended to cause distress [to the victim]. He believed she did wish to have contact and that’s why he made contact.”

The lawyer said that Stubbs had been assessed as having bipolar disorder and paranoid personality disorder.

Mr Khawam added: “He does want to apologise to the [victim]. He says that he has misunderstood the situation believing that she did in fact want contact.” Stubbs was jailed for 32 months.