DAD David Rowley has been jailed after sending racist text messages to his ex-partner and mother of his child.

Rowley had been in a relationship with his victim for 27 years previously, Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court was told.

But the 62-year-old was driven to an "explosion of temper" by the financial fall-out from the breakdown of the relationship.

Although the couple split in 2009, the animosity between Rowley and the woman spiralled and by January 2011 he was issued with a harassment notice.

Nine months later he sent four racist 'joke' texts to his ex, who is of mixed race, and on September 17 he went to her new home in Hillswood Avenue, Leek, in a rage.

While in her home, he broke a vase and kicked a television.

Yesterday he admitted racially aggravated harassment and affray and was sentenced to eight months in prison.

Prosecutor Fiona Cortese said: "He went into the dining room and put his foot through a Moorcroft vase making it hit the wall.

"He kicked a television causing the glass shelf to smash and then kicked a Volkswagon Golf outside.

"In interview he admitted sending the texts and said they were meant to be funny not racist.

"He said he was invited into the house by the son of his ex-partner's new boyfriend and he lost his temper when he saw the vase and television they had bought together."

Rowley punched the youngster, who was the only person in the house that day.

The court was told he is now ashamed of his actions which have caused fear and upset to his ex.

She has had counselling to come to terms with what has happened and has been fearful to go into town.

Nicola Bell, defending said: "It was a complete loss of reason, rightly or wrongly caused by more than 18 months of correspondence, phone calls and animosity from the fall-out of the relationship.

"The problem was property and items the couple had bought together over many years. Every single thing was taken and never recovered.

"It was an explosion of temper which had nothing to do with the young man involved, it was aggressive, uncalled for and very childish.

"Geographically they are worlds apart now and thankfully the defendant does not have to visit Stoke-on-Trent at all. A line is being drawn under this today."

Rowley, formerly of Bank Hall Road, Smallthorne, now lives in Wales with a new partner and is currently working in Belfast.

Judge Paul Glenn said the sentence would have been a community order if it was a simple charge of harassment, but the racially aggravated nature of the texts made it much more serious.

He sentenced Rowley to two months for the harassment and six months for the affray, to be served consecutively.

He added: "I do not accept this behaviour wasn't premeditated.

"I sentence on the grounds that you went round there to cause trouble.

"You should know better than to behave like that.

"You forced your way into the house and your actions have had a significant effect on people."