Last updated at 16:34, Wednesday, 12 September 2012

A JILTED sweetheart plagued his ex with texts and hung around outside her home after she dumped him because she feared he had become too obsessive.

Deborah Wright had been in a relationship with Wayne William Hall for just three or four weeks before trying to cool things off with him, Furness Magistrates Court heard yesterday.Ms Judith Knott, prosecuting, told the court Miss Wright had then gone out with her friends on August 25, and Hall had been unhappy about this.

That evening she found that every pub she went in, Hall was there.

He kept approaching her, especially when she was talking to men, and at one point she caught him watching her through a pub window.

When she spoke to him he was abusive and she ended the relationship.

On August 27, Ms Knott said, Miss Wright went to Hall’s house to drop off some of his belongings, but when she returned to her home in Cleator Street, Dalton, that evening, she found him standing in the back street.

Ms Knott said the victim made Hall aware he was making her very uncomfortable, but he then started sending her texts asking if she was OK.

Miss Wright went to stay at a friend’s house because she was worried the defendant was following her.

The next morning she texted him to tell him to stay away from her and her house because he was making her uneasy, but Hall continued to send texts. Again, she replied asking him to stop.

She then got another five texts and, at 11.05pm that night, heard a noise outside her house. On seeing the defendant standing on the opposite side of the road, she called the police.

Defending, Mr Andy Gallagher explained none of the texts were threatening.

He said: “This was a relationship Mr Hall cherished and thought was going to last some time. His attempts to maintain the relationship were quite genuine, to the point where the victim made it clear to him that the relationship was over.

“He should have desisted. Unfortunately, he didn’t. He accepts that and he apologises for his behaviour.’’

The court heard Hall has a conviction for a similar offence dating back eight years.

The 48-year-old, of School Street, Barrow, pleaded guilty to harassment without violence.

The case was adjourned until Tuesday for a pre-sentence report.

First published at 09:54, Wednesday, 12 September 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk