AN EX-CONVICT who refused to believe his girlfriend had left him insisted he loved her then shouted abuse and accused her of seeing other men.

Burnley magistrates heard how Michael Rennie Shepherd, 35, turned up at Helen Peel's house and slept in her bed while she spent the night downstairs.

Miss Peel suffered five weeks of her life being made hell and was frightened of Shepherd, who would not leave her alone when she told him their relationship was over.

Father-of-two Shepherd, of Bradshaw Street, Nelson, was fined £200, with £110 costs, after admitting harassment, possessing cannabis and threatening words or behaviour. He was placed under a six-month restraining order. Lesley Williams, prosecuting, said the defendant and Miss Peel had a 10-month relationship.

When he went to prison, she visited him, and told him the relationship was over.

On his release in September, he would not leave Miss Peel alone. Shepherd told the woman he still loved her and wanted to get back together.

He turned up at her house and refused to leave her alone, staying the night while she slept downstairs.

The following day Shepherd phoned to apologise and asked to meet Miss Peel for a chat.

He later phoned Miss Peel, made threats and told the complainant: "What I am going to do to you doesn't bear thinking about."

Miss Peel alerted police and the defendant continued to phone her, pledging his love and saying she had to be nice to him to keep him calm.

Shepherd shouted at and abused his ex-girlfriend, who told police he had made her life hell.

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