Jealous binman Adam Crawford controlled a former partner and got her to delete male friends on social media.

He also threatened to send out intimate photographs of her - and did send one which caused considerable distress, Mold Crown Court was told.

Crawford, 33, of Merlin Road in Rhyl, admitted a charge of controlling and coercive behaviour and the theft of her mobile phone.

But he escaped immediate custody.

Prosecuting barrister Maria Massellis said that the victim described the relationship as "awful" and "controlling".

He told her she could not go shopping with friends and when he arrived home to find a female friend there he accused her of disobeying his directions.

The defendant would make derogatory remarks about her if she wore make up or tight fitting clothes and he would ask her why she was getting dressed up?

He would demand to know who she was talking to on her mobile phone , would go through her Facebook profile and demand that she delete any male friends.

"At one point he asked her to delete all male contacts from her mobile phone which she agreed to do," the prosecutor explained.

As part of the police investigation, screen shots of conversations between them had been provided by the victim which showed how jealous and possessive he was, she explained.

She believed he was going to assault her when out shopping, he accused her of seeing other people and he threatened to kill her if she was "sha..ing someone else."

He even used the location service on her mobile phone to keep track on her.

She switched it off, he made her switch it back on and when she was having something to eat he contacted her and asked what she was doing on the coast road of Rhyl?

Miss Massellis said that the victim felt desperate that he was monitoring her movements in such a way.

On another occasion he smashed up her phone which was on contract and was costing her £70 a month.

He made threats to her including one to smash her teeth down her throat.

In a victim impact statement she told how his treatment of her had been shocking and she had been left feeling depressed and traumatised.

Simon Killeen, defending, said that his client had not offended in the last 12 months and had a full time job as a refuse collector which provided him with a good income to support his child.

He had moved in with his parents to help care for them - both suffered ill-health and his father had cancer.

Mr Killeen said that he could not get away from the fact that his client had "behaved appallingly."

He was ashamed and remorseful and it was clear the probation service felt that it could work with him.

Judge Huw Rees said that it beggared belief that he, a man of 33, could behave in such a way.

His offending was the product of his possessive and jealous nature and he caused upset and distress, and demeaned his victim.

"That is something you should be ashamed of," the judge said.

But the defendant had an insight into his behaviour, he recognised his treatment of her had been appalling and obsessive, and he himself had described his behaviour as "disgusting and sickening".

He had pleaded guilty and he appeared to have suffered an emotional breakdown.

The defendant was supporting his son financially and caring for his parents.

Importantly, he was prepared to address the factors that had caused him to behave in such a way.

He received a ten month prison sentence suspended for a year and was sent on a building better relationships course.

The defendant was placed on rehabilitation and he was ordered to carry out 150 hours unpaid work in the community.

Judge Rees also ordered him to pay £153 compensation for "the spiteful theft" of her mobile phone.

A five year restraining order was made.