A 36-year-old man struggling to come to terms with the breakdown of a relationship bombarded his ex with telephone calls and text messages despite being issued with a harassment warning.

Blackburn magistrates heard Trevor Hollins was also seen outside his former partner's house on two occasions leaving her feeling scared to be in her own home on her own.

Hollins, of Pleasington Grove, Burnley, pleaded guilty to harassing Billy Joe Shackleton. He was made subject to a community order for 12 months with a curfew between 8 pm and 6 am for eight weeks and ordered to pay £85 costs and £85 victim surcharge. He was made subject to a restraining order for 12 months which prohibits him from having any contact with Miss Shackleton or entering Delph Street, Burnley, where she lives.

Alex Mann, prosecuting, said there had been no violence or threats of violence but there had been a lot of contact over a few days.

"He was given a harassment warning but in the days that followed there were hundreds of calls and messages directed at Miss Shackleton," said Mrs Mann. "He was also seen outside her home on two occasions. She has had to have members of her family stay with her because she didn't want to be alone if he turned up."

Geoffrey Ireland, defending, said his client had struggled to come to terms with the break down of the relationship.

"There was some suggestion there might be a reconciliation but her family encouraged her not to see him," said Mr Ireland. "Recently he has discovered she has been seeing another man."