Drunk man pitched tent in ex's garden when asked to leave

Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard that when he was asked to leave Boothby responded by pitching his tent in her back garden.

Boothby, 40, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to stalking. He was jailed for 14 weeks for the offence and a further 12 weeks of the suspended sentence were activated.

District Judge Alexandra Preston said the stalking charge was over an eight-day period and had started the day after the suspended sentence was imposed.

"You used child contact as an excuse to harass her," said District Judge Preston. "I accept you suffered a brain injury which may have affected your behaviour."

Nicola Mills, prosecuting, said the aggrieved would say she had suffered at her ex-partner's hands for many months.

"She hoped that when he was sentenced on April 11 contact would cease but it hasn't," said Miss Mills. "He has persisted in contacting her, usually when he is heavily intoxicated. She says that is when his behaviour is unpredictable and she is fearful it is escalating."

Boothby attended her house drunk and uninvited on April 20 and was asked to leave.

"He refused and pitched his tent in her back garden."

Aftab Bakhat, defending, said four years ago his client had been working in Coventry when he was the victim of an unprovoked attack. He was smashed on the back of the head with a brick and the attack continued after that."

Mr Bakhat said the attacker was convicted of attempted murder. His client was in a coma for two weeks and hospitalised for a number of weeks more.

"He took a long time to recover," said Mr Bakhat. "He had to learn to walk again and learn how to engage with his family. His memory was profoundly affected."

Mr Bakhat said his client had started drinking and that had increased.

"He knows he needs to stop drinking," said Mr Bakhat.

"After his last court hearing he went to the complainant who understands and is sympathetic up to a point."