A WOMAN tormented by her ex-husband's infatuation today asked "Where is the justice?" as he walked free from court after admitting his eighth and ninth breach of a restraining order.

"He has a suspended sentence hanging over him while I face a life sentence of not knowing what he is going to do next," said Vanessa Kealey, 28.

"The restraining order was made to protect me but he ignores it totally. He is laughing at the courts and the only people suffering are me and the children. I know he will be back, turning up on my doorstep or waiting at the school gates. When he was sent to prison at the beginning of December I thought at least we would have a peaceful Christmas but he managed to reach me even from his prison cell."

That contact, in the shape of letters and a Christmas card sent by David Kealey from Preston Prison, resulted in the latest charges of breaching the restraining order imposed by Blackburn magistrates in April 2003.

"Having got four months in December I thought he must get longer this time or even be sent to the Crown Court for sentence," said the mother of Kealey's two children.

"Instead he walks free and I have to start looking over my shoulder every two minutes all over again.

"He just won't let go and I am beginning to think it will never end. My worry is that I don't know what he is going to do next or how far he will go.

"He is so besotted I fear he is capable of anything and I fear what he might do to make me and the children his again."

When Kealey appeared in court on January 8, the chairman of the magistrates bench told him: "You seem deeply obsessed and unable to stop yourself and we have very real fears as to what the outcome of this obsession might be."

Vanessa added: "I read that and thought there was some hope the courts understood my situation but it seems I was wrong."

The latest court hearing 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, for which a community rehabilitation order for 18 months was imposed on July 18. The following day he was arrested for another breach and yet another 18-month rehabilitation order was imposed. The same again happened on July 27 and on July 28 and two days later breach number five was punished with a 18-month community rehabilitation order and for a breach on September 29 he was made subject to 12-month rehabilitation order.

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

Eddie Harrison, prosecuting, told Blackburn magistrates: "The restraining order isn't protecting her, it doesn't seem to count with this defendant."

But Michael Blacklidge, defending, said:"All this has been an attempt on my client's part to apologise for the way he behaved."

Kealey, who pleaded guilty to both his most recent breaches was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for two years.