A MAN developed a "fixation" for a former schoolmate who he spent a night with after a chance meeting years later.

Blackburn magistrates heard Lewis James Pickup repeatedly harassed the woman who was eventually given the protection order.

But he continued to make unwanted contact on the latest occasion turning up at her home and looking in through the window as she was doing a friend's hair.

Pickup, 22, of Old Street, Newchurch, pleaded guilty to breach of a restraining order. He was sentenced to eight weeks in prison suspended for six months and ordered to pay £85 costs and £128 victim surcharge.

Imposing the sentence the chairman of the magistrates said if Pickup continued making a nuisance of himself he would go straight to prison.

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said it was the third time Pickup had breached the restraining order.

The victim was at home doing her friend's hair in the front room when the friend said there was someone in the garden.

"She looked up and saw him standing at the window staring at her," said Miss Allan.

"She went upstairs and shouted out of the bedroom window for him to go and leave her alone."

She said the victim had known Pickup since high school but she had never tried to contact him after they spent a night together.

"She thought after the restraining order was made she could get on with her life but in fact he has now breached that order three times," said Miss Allan.

Aftab Bakhat, defending, said his client suffered from anxiety, depression and COPD.

"He had a brief association with the complainant and that has led to obsessive behaviour towards her," said Mr Bakhat.

"He has become fixated. He believed she was trying to help him when society had let him down. He believed, wrongly, she was sending an invitation for him to attend at her home.

"I would say this is part of his autism," said Mr Bakhat.

"He reads into things and believes there are signals when there are not and misread situations.

"There is no involvement with the mental health services and that is something that needs to happen."