A man breached his restraining order within days of being made subject to a suspended sentence for a previous breach.

Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard how Dominic Cooper was responding to a 'cry for help' from his ex-partner who was threatening to self-harm.

Cooper, 44, of Kipling Place, Great Harwood, pleaded guilty to breaching the restraining order by attending his ex-partner's home and contacting her by text message.

The suspended prison sentence was activated and Cooper was jailed for 28 weeks.

Imposing the sentence, the chair of the magistrates' bench said the defendant's offending was persistent.

"The court put these restraining orders in place for a reason," the chair said.

"You have breached it again and again and the latest was very soon after you had been made subject to a suspended prison sentence. You leave us with no option."

Usma Kausar, prosecuting, said the restraining order was made in April following a conviction for assault.

A breach in August had been marked with a fine and the suspended sentence imposed in September.

Ian Huggan, in mitigation, said his client and his former partner had been exchanging text messages.

"It wasn't a case of him texting her and her ignoring them," said Mr Huggan.

"It was a two-way street."

Mr Huggan said Cooper went to his former partner's address at her request and because she was threatening to self-harm.

"Let us imagine he didn't go round to offer assistance and she committed suicide," said Mr Huggan. "The guilt would have been on him."