A MAN continued to contact a female acquaintance despite being subject to a suspended prison sentence.

Blackburn magistrates heard Stephen John Swales contacted the woman by text message just three weeks after the suspended sentence was imposed for another breach of the same order.

Swales, 49, of Pasture Lane, Barrowford, pleaded guilty to breach of a restraining order.

He was jailed for two weeks for the offence and a further eight weeks for breaching the suspended prison sentence.

Alex Mann, prosecuting, said the aggrieved had never been in a relationship with Swales but knew him as a friend of her brother's.

The restraining order was made in July and the breach which resulted in the suspended sentence in August.

"It is low level harassment but when it is persistent it becomes worrying and annoying," said Mrs Mann.

"The court has imposed a restraining order, tried to help him with his alcohol problem by imposing a treatment order and imposed a supended prison sentence," said Mrs Mann. "Its hard to see what else can be done."

David Leach, defending, said for much of the time the victim had been happy for his client to go round to her house but as soon as there was a problem she wouldn't entertain him.

He said the latest messages were of an apologetic nature and not threatening in any way.

"At the time of the last sentence he was drinking 16 cans of strong lager a day but he has now got that down to just two," said Mr Leach.

"He has one when he gets up to stop him getting the DTs and one before he goes to bed to help him sleep."