A MAN who followed and harassed his former partner for almost 24 hours has been jailed for 18 months.

Despite a restraining order, Adam Holt hung around outside the hairdressers where Nicola Holt worked, followed her to the gym, which he joined in order to stay with her, kept her up all night talking and, the next day, insisted she went to hospital with him after he took an overdose of pills in front of her salon.

Jailing Holt, the Honorary Recorder of Bolton, Judge Timothy Clayson told him: “You behaved in a completely obsessed way towards her and with absolutely no regard whatsoever for her welfare. There is a strong trait of self-indulgence and emotional blackmail running through your behaviour.”

Andrew Evans, prosecuting, told Bolton Crown Court how, in April 2016, Adam Holt was given a six month prison sentence, suspended for two years for assault and possessing a knife.

Subsequently, a further suspended sentence was made as well as a restraining order banning him from contacting his victim.

But on January 4 this year 28-year-old Holt turned up at the hairdressers in Bolton where Nicola Holt works and stood outside.

Mr Evans said she was worried he might make a scene, especially as there were sharp objects such as scissors on the premises.

So she went to a nearby pub with him and he even followed her to the gym where she works out.

“He signed up to become a member, using a false name, on the same day, in order to stay with her throughout the evening,” said Mr Evans.

At 8pm when she left the gym he manipulated her into letting him go to her house where she had to stay up all night with him while he was emotional and crying.

Mr Evans said Ms Holt turned off her phone and internet in case incoming messages would antagonise him and, the next morning, gave him winning scratch cards which he could cash in to pay for his bus fare home.

But, instead, Holt followed her to work again and stood outside taking, what she thought was, handfuls of paracetamol.

When an ambulance arrived he insisted she go to hospital with him. She was able to get away from him at hospital after nurses threatened to call police if he followed her.

Even then, he continued to bombarded her with a series of text messages.

Holt, a father-of-three of no fixed address, was arrested and appeared via a prison video link for sentencing after pleading guilty to breaching a restraining order and a suspended prison sentence.

Matthew Howarth, defending, stressed that Holt had not physically harmed his victim, although he conceded psychological harm had been caused.

He added that Holt has suffered from depression and anxiety.

“He is fully contrite,” said Mr Howarth.

But a pre-sentence report revealed Holt has not made progress in addressing the issues which have led to his offending.

Judge Clayson told him: “You have very little insight into the harm you’re causing.”