A Melbourne man who conducted a reign of terror against his ex-lover, including strangling her cat with a telephone cord, has been jailed for more than nine years.
Paul Maher began his two-month crime spree after breaking up with Lynne Forehan and when tensions grew over his contact with their toddler.
The County Court in Melbourne heard Maher, then 24, began harassing and threatening Ms Forehan and her family last year.
The court was told he threw two Molotov cocktails at her parent's house where she was staying, setting the loungeroom alight.
He also ransacked her North Melbourne flat and destroyed her belongings, urinated on her bed and strangled her cat, Sox, with telephone cord.
On Tuesday, Judge Felicity Hampel jailed Maher for nine years and nine months.
"The offences are made more serious because they were persistent, escalating and very frightening and dangerous," she said.
Judge Hampel added Maher's strangling of Ms Forehan's cat was "calculated, callous and terribly cruel".
The court heard Maher had a personality disorder and a long history of anger problems and drug abuse.
He pleaded guilty to multiple charges including stalking, arson endangering life, burglary and possessing a dangerous item.
He must serve a minimum of six years and nine months before being eligible for parole.
The sentence takes into account the 13 months he has spent in custody.
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link to news.ninemsn.com.au]
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