A VIOLENT partner who assaulted his ex after being told to stay away from her by the courts has been jailed.

Stephen Wilson, 29, was handed an indefinite restraining order along with a prison sentence for violence against the mother of his children in August 2016.

But shortly after leaving prison, Wilson, of Henry Street, Bolton, started contacting his ex and visiting her home in Darwen, which was fitted with panic buttons to protect her from him.

Stephen Parker, prosecuting, said: “She did not want him there but chose the path of least resistance.”

On May 20, Wilson went to the house, the court heard.

He locked the doors and followed the victim around the house calling her names.

Mr Parker said: “She was fearful of making an attempt to leave. She did not have an opportunity to do so.

“She wasn’t able to get to her mobile to ring the police without him becoming aware of what she was trying to do."

Although the victim had panic buttons in the house and a mobile phone, the prosecution said she was frightened and felt unable to reach them safely, and left Wilson downstairs when she went to bed at 3am.

The following morning, the court heard the victim hid in the bathroom and phoned the police when she heard the front door thinking Wilson had left the house.

While she was on the phone, Wilson returned to the house and barged into the bathroom, knocking the victim with the door and causing grazes to her hand, feet and elbow.

When the police arrived, Wilson asked his ex: “Can’t we sort this out? I love you.”

The court heard Wilson has a number of previous convictions and a history of violence and abuse towards his ex partner.

In April 2015 he was sentenced for harassment and breach of a non molestation order, in 2016 he was jailed for six months for assault offences against Miss Banks.

He pleaded guilty to assault and breach of a restraining order.

Judge Ian Leeming, sentencing, said the case was so serious he had no option but to send Wilson back to prison.

He jailed him for 26 weeks.