A MAN who persistently made abusive phone calls to a woman over four months has been banned from contacting her.

Edward Nuttall, 43, of Bond Street, Colne, was given a 12 months conditional discharge and made subject of a six months restraining order by Burnley Magistrates, after admitting harassment.

Dylan Bradshaw, defending, said Nuttall was suffering illness and after some sort of attack last November he had been seeing his specialist and doctor regularly.

The defendant had been told he needed to change his lifestyle and ought to moderate his behaviour and calm down.

At the moment, the defendant was on benefits but he hoped with the right medication he would be able to return to business of some sort.