A DEFENDANT who disregarded court orders by texting his ex-partner “thinks he can do what he wants”, his ex-partner has said.

Matthew Fletcher breached a non-molestation order on three occasions by texting Amy Wilson last year, Colchester Magistrates’ Court was told on Wednesday.

In a victim personal statement read on behalf of Miss Wilson by prosecuting barrister Priscilla Afful-Mensah, it was said Fletcher made it hard for his ex-partner to get a job and ignored orders imposed by the family courts preventing him from contacting her.

The statement read: “I feel he is going to get away with this – he has a non-molestation order on him and ignores it every time.

“He believes he can do what he wants – last time he had a court order, he said he ripped it up and didn’t read it.”

Fletcher, of New Town Road, Colchester, wept in the dock as the mitigating barrister told magistrates the defendant would comply with any future court orders.

Roger Neild, mitigating, said: “Will he do what he is told?

“The short answer is yes.”

He added Fletcher, 38, was struggling with his mental health and cannabis use at the time of the offences in January last year.

Fletcher must carry out 25 rehabilitation days, 100 hours of unpaid work, £119 in costs.

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