LOVELORN Nigel Thomas Willman harassed his former girlfriend over a two month period after she had terminated the relationship.

Blackburn magistrates heard that he phoned her at home and at work, sent her a letter and confronted her in person on two occasions. On one of those he grabbed her round the throat in a Clitheroe pub, and on another damaged her car.

Willman, 20, of Hillside Drive, West Bradford, Clitheroe, pleaded guilty to harassing Victoria Lewellyn. He was put on probation for 12 months, ordered to pay £400 compensation and made the subject of an indefinite restraining order which prohibits him from having any contact with Miss Lewellyn.

John Houldsworth, defending, said there was a psychiatric history to the defendant. He said there had been no repetition of the behaviour since November.

Stipendiary magistrate Jonathon Finestein said that but for the psychiatric history, Willman would have gone to prison. "You must have been very upset, but you must not behave like this or you may have to go to prison," said Mr Finestein.

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