An NHS doctor was handed a jail term after trying to ruin his ex's relationship using fake screenshots and messages.

Javed Saumtally, 28, sent himself texts and claimed they were from his former partner, who said the accusation was "life-changing".

Saumtally took "extraordinary steps" to sabotage his ex's new relationship and even filed a hoax police report alleging abuse during an "unhealthy obsession", Brighton Crown Court was told.

It was a "devious, determined and technologically adept" scheme, prosecutor Jonathan Atkinson told the jury.

He will serve 15 months behind bars for perverting the course of justice via his plot.

Saumtally was in a stormy relationship with the man, with whom he shared a flat in Brighton and later Ipswich.

But when it ended, he went to extreme lengths to ruin his ex's attempts to move on.

He was guilty of a "concerted ploy to deliberately undermine the relationships of his flatmate… all the while pretending to act as an understanding friend and companion," Mr Atkinson said.

One of his former flatmate's exes was interviewed in a marathon session by cops, spending 15 hours in police custody.

That was all a waste of time, as Saumtally's allegations were bogus.

Eventually, the man's name was cleared but only after police held onto his phone for almost two months, which he said "felt like Covid isolation".

He also said the allegations were "life-changing".

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The man added: "It's so important for me to get justice and find out why such deceitful lies were told to me.

"It was deeply hurtful to have our time together ruined in such a bitter way."

Judge Jeremy Gold QC added: "It's a tragedy that I should have to deal with you for such a serious offence as perverting the course of justice."

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