A 49-YEAR-OLD man who had previously been jailed for breaching injunctions taken out by his former wife continued to contact her despite a police warning.

Blackburn magistrates heard Jason Gaunt repeatedly turned up at his ex-wife’s place of work and was caught hanging around the Rishton home she shared with her new husband.

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But he claimed all he wanted was contact with the couples’ daughter who was at university in Manchester.

Gaunt, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to harassing Melanie Norcliffe.

He was remanded in custody for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Tracey Yates, prosecuting, said the couple had separated in 1998 and Mrs Norcliffe had obtained a civil injunction against him in 1999.

Things calmed down but in 2012 she applied for a further injunction because of his behaviour.

He was turning up at her place of work and was being aggressive and abusive towards her.

Mrs Yates said this behaviour continued in 2015 after Gaunt had been jailed.

He kept asking for contact details for their daughter. She explained she had sent her a text containing his phone details.

“Because of the previous history she doesn’t want any contact with him and the staff at work and her husband are trying to protect her,” said Mrs Yates.

She said on one occasion Gaunt got on the same bus as his wife on her way home from work and on another her husband went to put something in the car and saw him hanging around outside.

“She is concerned his behaviour is escalating and it makes her anxious to feel he is watching her both at home and at work,” said Mrs Yates.

“She does not feel he has taken the police warning seriously. She feels he has got more and more aggressive.”

Debbie Morgan, defending, said Gaunt was homeless at the moment and sleeping on park benches and in sheds.

“This is a man who is struggling with his difficulties and is very vulnerable,” said Miss Morgan.”

“When the relationship broke down he left and signed the family home over to his wife who still lives there with her new husband.”

Miss Morgan said Gaunt only wanted to maintain contact with his daughter.