Jailed: the jilted boyfriend who sabotaged his ex's family car

Nikki Young slashed a brake pipe and the fan belt on a Peugeot 205 belonging to the sister of his ex-girlfriend, Tammy Short, Durham Crown Court was told.

Sentencing the 21-year-old , Judge Tony Lancaster told him: "You put in danger the lives of all those who were in the car as well as other road users. You would be only too well aware of what you were doing."

Ms Short still feels unsafe at home and remains disturbed by the incident, the court heard.

The 19-year-old has been sitting exams this week, knowing that Young would be sentenced yesterday.

David Crook, prosecuting, said: "This incident has impacted quite severely on the family."

Young, of Valley View, Highfield, near Rowlands Gill, Gateshead, sabotaged the Peugeot last November 11, at her home, in Burnopfield, County Durham, under cover of darkness.

Judge Lancaster said: "The witnesses in this case spoke of behaviour which is typical of a stalker. The consequences of your action could have been very severe."

A serious accident was only avoided because the Peugeot's brakes failed with a mechanic behind the wheel - after Ms Short noticed something was wrong and asked for them to be checked.

Mr Crook said: "Because of his experience, he brought the vehicle to an emergency stop using the handbrake. Had anyone been driving that vehicle more quickly at the time of the brake failure, the results could have been quite catastrophic."

Young had cut the brake pipe in three places.

Jane Waugh, mitigating, said: "He acted out of drink, out of stupidity and out of wanting to upset her in the way she had upset him. He did not want to cause her physical harm."

However, Judge Lancaster said: "In my view, it has to be a sentence of imprisonment."

Young admitted damaging property, being reckless as to whether life was endangered, and was jailed for three years.

He also admitted scratching graffiti onto a garage door, and was jailed for one month, to run concurrently.