A MAN who persistently breached a restraining order designed to protect his ex-wife from harassment has been jailed for nine months.

Blackburn magistrates heard that David Kealey committed the tenth breach of the order in as many months, two weeks after he was made subject to a six-month suspended prison sentence.

And the magistrates said they had no option but to impose an immediate prison sentence, having considered the impact on the victim and Kealey's complete disregard for the order of the court.

Kealey, 35, who gave his address as Eaves Lane, Chorley, pleaded guilty to breach of a restraining order.

He was jailed for three months for that offence to run consecutive to the six-month suspended sentence imposed on January 29.

John Wood, prosecuting, said Kealey had approached the Railton Avenue, Blackburn, home of Vanessa Kealey and started banging on the door. She refused to answer and called the police.

Officers saw Kealey nearby and he was pursued across playing fields heading in the direction of Feniscowles.

At one stage Kealey plunged into the Leeds and Liverpool canal to try to evade capture but he was eventually detained in a backyard.

After Kealey walked free from court in January, Mrs Kealey told the Lancashire Evening Telegraph that she knew her ex would be back "turning up on my doorstep, or waiting at the school gates".

The court was told the restraining order was made for three years in April after Kealey had pleaded guilty to harassment.

Seven days later he breached the order and when he appeared in court on May 1 he was fined and ordered to pay £50 compensation. On July 17, he again breached the order and a community rehabilitation order for 18 months was imposed on July 18.

The following day he was arrested for another breach and another community rehabilitation order imposed for 18 months.

Another breach was committed on July 27 and on July 28 another community rehabilitation order for 18 months imposed. Two days later, the fifth breach was punished with a community rehabilitation order for 18 months and for a breach on September 29 he was made subject to community rehabilitation order for 12 months.

Kealey, 34, was eventually jailed for four months on December 6 after admitting the seventh breach.

While he serving the sentence, he breached the order again by writing two letters and a Christmas card to Mrs Kealey.

Elizabeth Parker, defending, said: "He is finding it hard to take on board that the relationship is over because he still loves her. "He just wants to talk to her."