»A 17-year-old who stalked, assaulted and tried to set fire to his ex-girlfriend’s flat has been sentenced to 12 months in a youth rehabilitation unit.

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, posted a lighted firework through the letterbox of the victim’s flat in Homerton on November 6 – the culmination of months of harassment following their split.

He met the girl in Hackney in January 2013 but they broke up after a few months because she found his jealousy and controlling behaviour too much, Thames Magistrates’ Court heard.

The boy then started bombarding the young woman with messages on Facebook and turned up at her flat, snatching her mobile phone from her.

She eventually managed to get the phone back and run into her home – but not before he slapped her round the face.

He admitted common assault and denied arson, but was found guilty at Stratford Youth Court on February 6.

He was sentenced last week to the rehabilitation unit with four months on a tagged curfew, 100 hours unpaid work and told to pay £100 in compensation to the victim.

He was also issued with a 12 month restraining order.

Det Con Jon Moseling, of Hackney’s Community Safety Unit, said: “Any form of domestic related crime will be vigorously investigated and offenders pursued.”