A BARROW man who appealed to the crown court against a restraining order imposed on him which banned him from contacting any shipyard work has had his appeal dismissed by a judge.

Shaun Gordon Williams, of Aberdeen Street in Barrow, had been charged with harassment after allegedly sending a series of letters to Tony Johns, managing director of BAE Systems Submarines.

He denied the charge and was due to stand trial at Furness Magistrates’ Court last March.

Williams, aged 39, was also accused of posting insulting and abusive posts about Mr Johns and other BAE directors on the Evening Mail’s website.

However the Crown Prosecution Service struck a deal with Williams’s solicitor Mr Trystan Roberts, to dispose of the matter by way of a civil restraining order and without criminal charges.

As a result of the order, Williams was banned from contacting Mr Johns or any other BAE Systems employee in Barrow while they are at work by any means, banned from entering BAE premises in Barrow, and banned from posting insulting, threatening or abusive posts about Mr Johns or any other BAE Systems employee.

However, witnesses in the case had been notified that Williams intended to appeal against his order and he appeared at Preston Crown Court yesterday.

Following yesterday's hearing, Judge Cornwall dismissed Williams' appeal and said: "The crown court is not the appropriate venue. This is now the end of these proceedings."