A Wiltshire man has been told to undertake unpaid work and handed a restraining order after repeatedly breaching a court order.
Steven Daniels, 41, admitted contacting his ex-partner on four occasions despite Swindon Family Court imposing a non-molestation order on him in January last year.
After 15 days, on 30 January, he’d breached the order by contacting her via email regarding matters which were not relating to child contact.
Prosecutor Kate Prince said the defendant, of Common Hill, Cricklade, made his ex-partner “feel guilty” about his living arrangements after their separation.
Daniels – formerly known as Stephen Dixon – committed the same crime on further three occasions – between 7 and 11 February, on 12 February and on 17 February.
He also asked a friend to deliver a key to vehicle to her at home, breaching the court order. He denied it was a breach but was later convicted at a trial on 12 November.
Representing himself, he complained that his pre-sentence report contained incorrect information about a police caution he received for assaulting his son by punching him in the head in 2015. He disputed that he punched him in the head, but did not dispute hitting him.
But Michelle James, appearing for the probation service, said they had received information about the incident from Wiltshire Police and believe it to be correct.
He also claimed the report writer failed to include information about two suicide attempts due to a computer error, and Ms James apologised for this.
Daniels told the court he works as a DPD delivery driver and is planning to move out of the Wiltshire area in the new year for a “fresh start”.
At Swindon Magistrates’ Court on 10 December, the bench imposed a 24-month community order comprising of 150 hours of unpaid work and undertake a Building Better Relationships course, estimated to take 42 days.
A 12-month restraining order was granted, meaning the defendant is prohibited from contacting his ex-partner directly or indirectly, visiting her home address or posting anything relating to her or the court case on social media.
He must also pay £705 prosecution costs and a £95 victim surcharge.