A STALKER who 'set out to destroy his victim' after tricking his way into getting her boudoir-style photos has been jailed for two years.

Mark Watts, from Storksbill Lane in Southmoor, near Abingdon, was sentenced on Friday at Oxford Crown Court for stalking and causing serious alarm or distress.

The court heard how the 38-year-old became obsessed with his victim - who cannot be named for legal reasons - and according to Judge Peter Ross 'began a sophisticated, manipulative and frankly evil campaign' against her and her family.

Prosecutor Rebecca Austin told the court how the pair became friends before Watts soon became obsessive about texting his victim up to 62 times a day.

Judge Ross added: "It seems the text messages you exchanged amounted only to banter, while some may or may not have been described as flirtatious.

"Your wife discovered these text messages and she warned the victim to stay away from her husband, you.

"Your victim made it very clear she had no interest in you whatsoever.

"But by early February you had become completely and utterly obsessed with your victim."

The court heard how Watts discovered his victim had been given a boudoir photoshoot by her partner and set up a fake email account in her name to obtain the pictures.

Watts contacted the studio under the fake account and said the photos had been lost and convinced them to send through all the pictures via a drop box link.

Judge Ross said: "By March 12 you had access to all photographs and requested topless photos, which mercifully there were none.

"You began a sophisticated, manipulative and frankly evil campaign against your victim and her family.

"You set out to destroy her and her relationship with her partner and with his children and evil is the right word to use for what you did."

The court heard how Watt's obsession continued as he set up three fake social media accounts to contact friends and family members of his victim.

Through these accounts he made multiple threats regarding the pictures and posted obscenities suggesting his victim was cheating on her partner.

It heard also how Watts publicly posted his victim's phone number with explicit suggestions.

He also contacted his victim under a fake name on the pretence of a house swap, but when the house he talked about was sold his victim contacted the police.

Defence Gareth James said: "The defendant is a gentleman of no previous convictions, hard working and who seemed to be under a great deal of stress at the time."

He continued to explain how at the time Watts had been going through a rough patch with his wife but they had rebuilt their relationship.

Judge Ross said: "I cant imagine what life would have been like at this time, her relationship seemed to be collapsing and her relationship with her partners children was destroyed.

"She was also under a significant question mark with her employers [who Watts also contacted under the fake accounts].

"You set about to destroy your victim and did so in a planned, sophisticated and evil way."

Watts was eventually arrested, on May 16, 2014, and pleaded guilty at trial on July 25.

On Friday he was ordered to pay £1,000 compensation to his victim and sentenced to two years in prison.