AN EXECUTIVE chef breached a non-molestation order obtained by his former partner within a month of it being made.

Blackburn magistrates heard James Barker repeatedly contacted his former partner through telephone calls and messages and she said it was causing her a high degree of distress and affecting her job.

But two months later when police found her at his apartment she refused to make a complaint and told police she wanted the relationship to continue.

Barker, 27, of the White Bull, Alston, pleaded guilty to three breaches of the order. He was given a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered to pay £85 costs and £21 victim surcharge.

Imposing the sentence District Judge Joanne Hirst said there was clearly a “continuing and consensual” relationship. She said she could not remove the non-molestation order without evidence from the aggrieved but amended it to allow the relationship to continue.

Ben Leech, defending, said the first breach had been made shortly after the order was made in the defendant’s absence. After pleading guilty to that breach he had deleted her and her friends and family from his contacts in an attempt to comply with the order.

“A week ago he received a letter from her saying she wanted to speak to him and reconcile,” said Mr Leech.

“They met in a park in Padiham and she assured him that she had put things in motion to have the order revoked.

“She moved in with him and it his understanding that the order is no longer desired by the complainant.”

Mr Leech said Barker worked for the family’s four pub-restaurants, The White Bull, The Station, Clitheroe, The Griffin’s Head, Huncoat, and the White Hart, Sabden.