A MAN said to have a "fixation" with his former partner has been banned from having any contact with her for the next 10 years.

Blackburn magistrates heard Craig Fielding Waddington had refused to accept that the relationship was over and his ex said his actions had caused her "significant harm".

Waddington, 32, of Whalley Road, Accrington, pleaded guilty to breach of a restraining order.

He was made subject to a community order for 12 months with 25 days rehabilitation activity requirement, fined £20 with £50 costs and an £85 victim surcharge.

A new 10 year restraining order was made which prohibits any contact with his former partner or approaching her home in Blackburn.

Parveen Akhtar, prosecuting, said the victim had ended the relationship in July 2017 but Waddington refused to accept the situation and she obtained a restraining order.

Towards the end of 2018 she received a letter from the court saying he had applied to have the order removed.

"She feared she would have to face him in court and became very anxious," said Miss Akhtar.

"She had got worked up and was dreading the whole experience."

The application was rejected but five days later Waddington turned up at her home address in Blackburn on Christmas Eve and delivered a letter.

"She feels he will never leave her alone and doesn't seem to be taking any notice of the restraining order," said Miss Akhtar.

Gareth Price, defending, said his client had asked for the restraining order to be removed because he wanted some kind of explanation of the state of the relationship.

"Within a few days he wrote a rambling and incoherent letter which he delivered," said Mrs Price.

"He doesn't know why he wrote it or what he thought it would achieve."

He said Waddington had certain mental health issues which meant he tended to see things in black and white.

"At no stage has he ever been told by the complainant herself that the relationship is over," said Mr Price.

"I feel that is what he actually needed."