Preston stalker sent terrified victim a clip of himself driving up the M6 to her home city at 143mph

Obsessive student Gaurav Jayaram, 27, of Garstang Road, Fulwood, Preston, was jailed for seven months after admitting stalking and dangerous driving - but will be released straight away due to the time he has served on remand.

The second charge relates to a video he filmed and sent of himself driving at 143mph towards the victim's home city in Cumbria, after being released on bail following his arrest.

Judge Sara Dodd described his behaviour as " very, very unpleasant - and in some parts sinister" as she imposed an indefinite restraining order and 12 month road ban.

Preston Crown Court was told his UK visa had since been taken away and he was due to fly back to New Zealand on Monday with his parents.

Prosecuting, Paul Cummings said his conduct happened between November 1, 2019 and February 26 this year, after Jayaram became a regular customer in the university bar where the woman worked.

The infatuated defendant began to make unwanted contact on Instagram and repeated visits to the bar.

Mr Cummings said: " She said initially she had brief conversations which were polite.

"He then started to make requests that only she serve him when she was working behind the bar.

"She continued to receive messages on Instagram and those suggested they snuggle or watch cartoons together. Once she received that type of information she politely declined, but then as time went on she made it clearer she wasn't interested.

"His behaviour changed in late October and effectively he was barred from that bar.

"He was only barred for a short period before being allowed back on November 4. At that point things took a turn. He started to focus his attention on her attending the bar regularly and requesting only she serve him.

"He also became involved in private conversations she was having with other people in the bar."

The victim reported him to the University in November and was informed he had returned to New Zealand.

But on January he returned to the UK, sending a message that said: "Unblock my other account you stupid p***y."

Eventually he used four separate media accounts to plague her with messages, pictures and videos of himself performing sexual acts.

Mr Cummings added: " They were often sexually motivated and sometimes explicit and vulgar, and they were received on a daily basis."

She reported him to the police on February 22 when he messaged a picture of her halls of residence and workplace - accompanied by a lewd picture and the message: " Good night, love you."

While on bail he tried to voice call her, and sent her friends messages and requests.

He was arrested again on March 1 after the motorway video was sent to her.

In an interview he told officers: "It's a social media platform, anyone can do what they want on it."

In a statement the victim, who was supported by the University's welfare team, said she became worried about waking up and what she would see from him. She said she had to return home from university as she feared for her safety, adding: "I just want it to stop."

Defending, Rachael Woods revealed Jayaram's parents had flown in from New Zealand and quarantined in Preston in order to attend court, but he had asked them not to come into the court room.

She said it would be in "everyone's interest" that the defendant was able to return to New Zealand

She added: " He is thoroughly embarrassed and ashamed at his behaviour and it is conduct now he now bitterly regrets, having had the opportunity over the last four months to reflect upon his behaviour."

Judge Dodd said: " Her life was affected. She already suffered from anxiety and this compounded it.

"Her concern is perfectly understandable.

"You thought it would be big and clever to drive at speeds of 143 mph, but you took video clips while you were driving at that speed. That's very serious and very dangerous."