A man who developed an infatuation for his probation officer has been locked up.
Blackburn magistrates heard Jamie Cunliffe had already been jailed twice for breaches of the restraining order, which had been put in place to protect the female officer.
When he was asked if he pleaded guilty to the latest breach, Cunliffe said: "I'm guilty of being in love with the wrong person."
Cunliffe, 36, of Devon Place, Church, pleaded guilty to breaching the restraining order for the first time by sending a letter to the victim. He was jailed for 26 weeks and the restraining order was extended until May 2028.
District Judge Alexandra Preston said the restraining order had been put in place because Cunliffe had stalked his probation officer.
"When you chose to contact her by sending this letter you were on prison licence for committing the same offence," said District Judge Preston.
"I do take into account your difficult circumstances and your mental health difficulties."
Kate Moore, prosecuting, said the restraining order was made in May 2024 and prohibited any contact with the probation officer for two years.
On November 28, the officer received a letter through the post at work. Included in the letter was the line: "I deserve to know where I stand, please don't let me down."
"She said it really upset her," said Miss Moore. "She said the behaviour had been going on for two and a half years and was impacting her personal and professional life."
A report from the probation service on the defendant's progress under post-sentence supervision said he had been doing well until four weeks ago when he started claiming he was hearing voices and that he was possessed.
The officer presenting the report said the fact Cunliffe continued to believe his victim had an interest in him of a romantic nature was quite worrying.
Daniel King, defending said his client had suffered rom serious mental health problems for a number of years and had a tragic background.
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"He was close to his parents," said Mr King. "His father died and then four weeks ago his mother died.
"That was after his two sisters committed suicide, one of them also taking the lives of her two daughters, his nieces. These factors may well have contributed to his mental health difficulties."
Mr King said it was clear his client's view of the relationship with the probation officer was skewed.
"After the death of his mother four weeks ago he reached out to her again in a letter in the terms referred to," said Mr King. "He said he held her in high regard and obviously this has caused her great distress.
"He would never intentionally harm her and he tells me the penny has dropped and he will not contact her again. He apologises for any upset he has caused."
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