A High Wycombe mechanic who was jailed after harassing two former girlfriends has “got to stop”, a top judge said today (Thursday) as he slashed his sentence.

David James Cato, 26, followed his ex in his car, sent her messages and said he would keep turning up at her workplace until she spoke to him.

He admitted harassment and also breaching a suspended sentence which he had been given for harassment of a previous girlfriend.

Cato, of Elm Road, Penn, was jailed for 20 months at Aylesbury Crown Court in September, but saw that cut to 12 months today.

Lord Justice Davis said: “He can put these things behind him, but it absolutely has got to stop.”

The court heard Cato had been in a relationship with the woman, but it became strained after a row in a pub at the end of last year.

After that, he subjected her to harassment, texting and calling her and appearing at her workplace.

On one occasion, he went to her house when she was leaving for work and drove towards her, leading to her locking herself in her car.

The sentencing judge took account of the fact Cato is autistic, but said he knew exactly what he was doing.

He was guilty of “absolutely horrid behaviour” and had made his most recent girlfriend’s life “a misery”.

Today, lawyers for Cato argued that he had been too harshly punished because the judge had taken into account the incident in the pub.

In fact, the prosecution had only charged him with harassment occurring in January, appeal judges were told.

Judge Nicholas Dean QC, sitting with Lord Justice Davis and Mrs Justice Nicola Davies, agreed that Cato had been sentenced “for behaviour he had never been charged with”.

Cato's overall sentence was cut to 12 months.