A man admitted pestering his ex-girlfriend with unwanted visits, advances and demands for sexual favours.

Leon Carrington, 24, of Blenheim Park Close, Leigh, pleaded guilty to harassing Carly Donovan between July 1998 and the start of June this year.

The harassment culminated in an unwanted drunken visit by Carrington which resulted in Miss Donovan being grabbed round the neck and pushed to the ground, Southend Magistrates' Court heard.

A charge of assault was not proceeded with by the prosecution.

Mugni Choudhury, prosecuting, said: "He has broken into her house by removing slats from the window at the back, entering uninvited and when she comes home she finds him there.

"He has made nuisance telephone calls and, perhaps most distressing, there has been a form of sexual pestering, advances and asking for sexual favours."

Mr Choudhury said that early on June 3, Carrington appeared at Miss Donovan's house. He tried to get in and police were called.

Although he was moved on, he later returned at 7am and became involved in an argument with Miss Donovan and her new boyfriend.

Mr Choudhury said: "She says he grabbed her by the throat and pushed her down, causing her to graze her knee."

In mitigation, Lee Wilcockson, representing Carrington, said that his client had felt strongly about Miss Donovan.

He said the physical confrontation on June 3 had not been a deliberate attempt to injure.

He said: "It wasn't an attempt to strangle as though to cause serious injury but more of a grab out of exasperation and he says he never wanted to argue with her."

Carrington was given six months probation, and given a restraining order for one year not to contact Miss Donovan directly. He was also ordered to pay £75 costs.

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