Blackburn dad in court for saying he loves and misses his son

Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard the post put Paul Stafford in breach of a non-molestation order despite the post not mentioning his ex-partner, who he is banned from talking about on social media.

Stafford had commented on a photograph he had posted more than 12 months earlier of him and his son when it came up on his timeline.

His comment was that he loved and missed the child.

Stafford, 33, of Ailsa Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to breach of a non-molestation order.

He was remanded on bail until November 24 for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Eliza Kukla, prosecuting, said the non-molestation order prohibited Stafford from posting or threatening to post anything to do with his former partner on social media.

Bill Rawstron, mitigating, said the photograph had first been posted a year before the non-molestation order was made by the family court in July.

"He says that on the anniversary of the original post it was re-posted," said Mr Rawstron.

"What he has done, which constitutes the breach, is to add a caption to the photograph which said he loved his son and hadn't seen him for a year.

"It wasn't specifically aimed at anyone, and he didn't believe he was breaching the order.”

Deputy District Judge Peter Minnikin said he accepted the photograph had appeared on a timeline and Stafford had breached the non-molestation order by adding a caption.

"There is no suggestion of any threats of violence, or anything like that," he added.