A MEMBER of the East Lancashire punk band Notsensibles was harassed by his former partner after he ended the relationship.

Blackburn magistrates heard Gary Brown, who had been in a relationship with Ian Phillips for over 20 years, left him and rekindled his friendship with a woman.

She died and Phillips sent his ex a Christmas card saying: “Hope you are both happy, oh forgot Sue dead” followed by a smiley face.

Phillips pleaded guilty to harassing Mr Brown, who played bass in the band which had a hit in 1979 with the song I’m In Love With Margaret Thatcher.

He was made subject to a community order for 12 months with days rehabilitation activity requirement and 150 hours unpaid work. He was ordered to pay £50 compensation, £85 costs and £85 victim surcharge.

He was also made subject to a restraining order for 12 months which prevents him from having any contact with Mr Brown including through the band’s website.

Andy Robinson, prosecuting, said Phillips started sending emails to the Notsensibles website and other band members alerted Brown to that.

He didn’t read them because he believed they would be too upsetting.

Phillips, 49, of Cross Lane, Salford, was given a harassment warning by the police and the messages stopped. But he was also sending cards and letters to Mr Brown’s sister’s address in Burnley.

“These were upsetting,” said Mr Robinson. “He was calling him scum and saying he could rot in hell.”

The Christmas card referring to his dead girlfriend was followed by numerous text messages referring to his sister and again calling him scum.

“Mr Brown found the abuse very upsetting, especially as it mentioned his deceased partner,” said Mr Robinson.

John Rusius, defending, said throughout their relationship Phillips had looked after Mr Brown.

“He was the one who worked and paid the bills while Mr Brown took drugs and spent the money,” said Mr Rusius.

“He left him with a high level of debt and he is still trying to get his life back on track.”

In 2013, after Baroness Thatcher’s death, I’m In Love With Margaret Thatcher received additional publicity when there was an online campaign to boost the record’s re-entry into the charts as a download, to counter the promotion of the song “Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead” by anti-Thatcher activists.

The campaign was initiated by Notsensibles’ singer Mike Hargreaves.

It also featured on the Oscar-winning film The Iron Lady.