A MAN has been ordered to take part in a domestic abuse programme for harassing his former partner – only days after she got a court order against him.

Keith Aylwin was banned from contacting the woman after their relationship broke up earlier this year.

But a court yesterday heard Aylwin had flowers and Easter eggs delivered to the woman’s Colchester home, called her on the phone and sent text messages.

He also drove alongside her in the street, but Chelmsford Crown Court heard she refused to speak to him.

Aylwin’s former partner had been granted a non-molestation order by Colchester County Court on February 3, banning him from contacting her.

But Mark Lakin, prosecuting, said Aylwin broke the order four times between February 11 and 15.

He added that Aylwin had previous convictions for breaking earlier non-contact orders.

Aylwin, 38, from Enville Way, High Woods, Colchester, admitted four charges of breaking the order at an earlier hearing. Sentence had been adjourned for reports.

Mr Justice Cooke gave him a two-year supervision order as well as the abuse programme condition.

The judge said Aylwin had served the equivalent of a six-month prison sentence on remand for the offences.

He told Aylwin if he had problems with any court orders, the best way to deal with them was through lawyers and the courts.

Paul Baker, mitigating, said Aylwin had made no threats to his former partner and there had been no violence.