Damien Durno escaped an immediate jail sentence this week, despite admitting charges of coercive control and stalking, after refusing to leave the woman alone.
Leeds Crown Court heard that the pair had been in a relationship for around five years, separating in 2021 but remaining in contact.
She later said his behaviour changed during their relationship due to his drug use. She said he would force her to go out and get his drugs, fearing what he could do if she refused.
Durno became paranoid and would question her whereabouts, even refusing to let her work.
She continued to give him money "out of fear" and was "manipulated and financially controlled", prosecutor Lily Wildman said.
The situation deteriorated when she began a new relationship.
On November 14, 2025, he sent her a video of himself with a noose around his neck. Panicking, she dialled 999 and paramedics attended his address.
He continued to demand money from her for the heroin substitute, methadone.
On November 15, the woman went to his home and Durno to confront him and he promised he would change his behaviour.
But the next day the situation escalated when he went to her address to demand money, making threats and telling her: "It's all your fault I'm like this."
On November 17 he threatened her again, saying he would damage her reputation at work if she did not give him £90, so she gave him the cash.
Finally, the next day he rang her more than 100 times in the space of a few hours and left voice messages saying he wished she was dead.
In a victim impact statement, the woman said his actions left with her severe anxiety, high blood pressure and heart palpitations.
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Durno, of Nutting Grove Terrace, Farnley, appeared in court this week from HMP Leeds where he was being held on remand. He has a previous conviction for domestic violence - an ABH on a woman in 2019.
Mitigating, Anthony Sugare said he had spoken with the victim who said she did not wish Durno to be jailed, but to be given help.
He said Durno entered his guilty pleas at an early stage, and that it had been six years since he was last in trouble.
The judge, Recorder Mark McKone KC gave him a 22-month sentence, suspended for two years, acknowledging he had not been in trouble for years.
He told him to complete 15 rehabilitation days, a domestic-violence course, a nine-month drug treatment requirement and handed him six-month electronic tag curfew.