A prolific stalker is facing a further stint behind bars and yet another restraining order in respect of a fifth ex-girlfriend.

Michael McLaughlin’s latest victim used Clare’s Law - a scheme designed to protect potential victims of domestic abuse by allowing them to request information from police about someone’s past - to unearth his shocking criminal record against former partners.

The woman found that the 28-year-old had either assaulted, harassed or stalked four women in four years and had been made subject of restraining orders against each of them, all of which he had breached.

But, when she ended their relationship after making the discovery, McLaughlin quickly returned to form and began a month-long stalking campaign against her, a court heard.

McLaughlin repeatedly rang and text the victim, turned up at her home in Newcastle’s East End and made threats to post intimate pictures of her online.

Chillingly, he also told a friend of the woman that he was “prepared to do life” if she didn’t contact him, South East Northumberland Magistrates’ Court was told.

His actions left the victim terrified and “feeling like a prisoner in her own home” as she was too frightened to go out, prosecutors said.

Now, McLaughlin, of Stanley Street, Wallsend, is facing another jail sentence and a fifth restraining order after he pleaded guilty to one count of stalking.

Glenda Beck, prosecuting, said the victim began a relationship with McLaughlin in early 2017, despite being warned by his own sister to stay away from him.

But, after his behaviour became more controlling and obsessive, the woman used Clare’s Law to find out about his criminal past from the police.

After learning of his previous convictions, the victim ended the relationship and McLaughlin’s stalking campaign began on January 1 this year.

Reading from the woman’s police statement, Ms Beck said: “He sent me messages. Sometimes they were nice but other times he called me a slag.

“He said he had been told by someone that I had cheated on him. I had 26 missed calls from a withheld number I believe to be him, I answered the first but he hung-up

“He turned-up in my street and parked outside and banged on my window for 10 minutes. I was shocked to also see screen shots of his Facebook page and the nasty comments he’d posted about me.

“He sent me an email saying the next picture he puts on Facebook will be naked pictures of me.”

Despite blocking him from social media, McLaughlin still managed to contact the woman by messaging one of her friends.

Ms Beck added: “The friend contacted her on January 21. They stated that the defendant had contacted them via Facebook saying he wanted the friend to contact the injured party and to let her know that he was going to post intimate photos online unless she contacted him by 12 noon that day on January 21.

“He also made threats, He said “She’s got until 12 noon to ring me or I will risk doing life”.”

The court was told the victim continued to receive messages and e-mails from McLaughlin, one of which contained the intimate photograph.

Finally, after reporting him to the police, McLaughlin was arrested on January 31.

Ms Beck said: “The defendant has been subject to four previous restraining orders in respect of four previous partners. He’s breached all four restraining orders.”

In a statement, the victim said had been left feeling terrified of what McLaughlin might do next,

She said: “Michael’s behaviour has completely destroyed my life - I feel I can’t leave my house.

“Nobody has the right or lawful excuse to harass me or stalk me or make me feel like a prisoner in my own home.”

Liz Dunbar, for McLaughlin, said he made the threats as he was angry because he believed the victim had cheated on him but denied intending to carry them out.

The solicitor added: “He wanted her to feel embarrassed and upset that she had cheated on him. He said he would never have carried out the threats. He just wanted her to hurt as much as he did. He reacted without thinking.

“You will be concerned that he has not learned his lesson given his history in relationships with females. He should be doing a domestic violence programme rather than spending more time in custody.”

The court heard that, as part of post-custodial supervision, McLaughlin was supposed to inform the Probation Service of any new relationships he started but that he had failed to do so.

Magistrates decided their powers were insufficient to deal with McLaughlin and he was sent to Newcastle Crown Court for sentence. He was remanded in custody to next appear there on March 1.

As reported on Chroniclelive in November 2016, McLaughlin made the news when he posted a picture of himself on Facebook from his prison cell in HMP Northumberland.

He captioned the snap, taken on an illegal mobile phone, “Another day in paradise”.

He also posted a status saying “Micky McLaughlin checked in to HMP Northumberland” in Acklington, along with a map pinpointing to his whereabouts.