A Sittingbourne businessman has been jailed for stalking a former contestant from Love Island after the two fell out.

Father of two Duncan Friend, 51, fell for Tyla Carr at a party and then splashed out on designer shoes and a bag after a trip to Selfridges.

He would later claim it was in exchange for tickets to a film Premiere in London - which never materialised, Maidstone Crown Court heard.

The two then fell out after he alleged she claimed to have cancer and they shared messages after he demanded the return of the items, including Jimmy Choo shoes.

The judge Recorder Edmund Fowler told him: "It became clear that your positions became ever more polarised..and eventually your demands became intensified and ever more over-bearing.

"The messages, over a relatively short period of time, became threatening and abusive."

Construction company boss Friend, of Woodstock Court, Sittingbourne, made 40 calls and resulted in him driving to a friendof Ms Carr, in Chatham, armed with a machete, which he waved about while uttering threats of violence.

It was caught on CCTV and police then became concerned for her welfare.

Now Friend, who pleaded guilty to stalking after the trial was due to start, has been jailed for 27 months. He had earlier admitted to possessing an offensive weapon.

His barrister, Lawrence Selby told the judge: "There are two sides to every story. Friend felt that Ms Carr took him for a fool."

He said Ms Carr’s claim to have cancer "touched a particularly raw nerve" and he reacted in a way which he accepts now was wrong.

Prosecutor Trevor Wright said the two met on December 30 last year and on January 25 they met again.

"It was his birthday and she was in London. She was looking at this as a friendship.

"Whilst in London they went to Selfridges and he bought her a bag, two pairs of shoes and a scarf."

He said Ms Carr had tickets for the premiere of a movie and he asked if she could get him a ticket and when it never happened he demanded the return of the items from Selfridges.

Mr Wright said she agreed to the return but Friend wanted them returned quicker than she was prepared to do it.

Neither was she prepared to give her address to him when he said he wanted to send a car to collect the items - resulting in him sending abusive messages.

The prosecutor said Friend then made 40 calls and texts saying he was going to "kick off" at her birthday bash in London, resulting in her changing the venue.

Friend later turned up at the home of her friend waving a machete and was arrested and bailed by the police with an order not to contact her.

But on February 16, she received a number of texts, some of which contained details of a planned holiday with family and friends in Mexico.

He was re-arrested and has been held in prison until sentencing, which his lawyer said had jeopardised important business contracts and the future for 13 of his employees

Mr Selby said because of personal tragedies involving his own family and cancer, he claimed, had set off "a perfect maelstrom which led him to behave this way."

"This was crass and gross stupidity but he has now learned his lesson, " he added.

Ms Carr, who was present in the court building expecting to give evidence, but left before sentence was pronounced with commenting.

The 23 year old model from Surrey was a contestant on the third series of Love Island and is described as "an internet personality."

Investigator for the vulnerable investigation team, Holly Felstead, said: “Duncan Friend subjected his victim to relentless harassment and intimidation and his actions have impacted deeply on her daily life.

“Friend has caused a huge amount of distress, fear and anxiety not only to the victim but to her friends and family.

“We are grateful that the victim has shown tremendous courage in coming forward and helping us secure this important sentence.

“I would like to praise her bravery in reporting these crimes to us and urge anyone who is being abused or harassed by someone they know to tell the police as soon as possible.

“Your safety is our priority and we will take whatever steps are open to us to protect you and bring to justice those who might harm you.”