A WEST Cumbrian man who harassed his ex-partner by sending her 21 messages has been ordered to do unpaid work.
Peter John Blakemore, 43, of Meadow Road, Whitehaven, admitted a charge of harassment without violence when he appeared at North And West Cumbria Magistrates court in Workington.
Pam Fee, prosecuting, told District Judge Gerald Chalk, Blakemore’s ex-partner asked him not to contact her, however he sent her 21 Whatsapp messages and some text messages on the same day.
Ms Fee said: “She didn’t reply, he was warned about his behaviour by police. About the messages, she stated some of them were upsetting, some were nice and some about the children.” She added some messages were described as threatening and abusive.
A restraining order was also imposed to prevent Blakemore from contacting his ex partner for 12 months.
Blakemore, who was representing himself, told judge Chalk he was not warned about his conduct by police and said the messages were requests to see his children.
The defendant, who works in the kitchen at Whitehaven’s Wetherspoon, said: “There was no threatening, the whole purpose was to see the children.” He added he suffered from depression and when his ex-partner made contact to ask to go and pick up some of her belongings he asked her to give him a couple of weeks but she insisted.
Judge Chalk, sentencing, said: “I give you full credit for the fact you pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and you’re a man of previous good character. The incident appears to have been for a relatively short period and I accept you mainly tried to contact her about the children.”
He imposed a 12-month community order with a requirement to do 50 hours of unpaid work. He also ordered Blakemore to pay £85 costs and £85 victim surcharge.