A MAN who refused to accept that a relationship was over bombarded his ex-partner with unwanted texts and phone calls.

Blackburn magistrates heard the harassment continued even after police had warned Robert Wignall about his behaviour.

The court was told the threats made by Wignall left his former partner so afraid she moved out of her home with her child to make sure he couldn’t find her.

Wignall, 26, now of no fixed address, but once of Lynthorpe Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to harassment. He was committed in custody to Preston Crown Court to be sentenced on September 16.

Philippa White, prosecuting, said the couple had been in a relationship for about five months and, at first, it had been fine.

“She began to notice changes in his behaviour and he became controlling, demanding to see her phone and accusing her of sleeping with other men,” said Mrs White.

“As a result she terminated the relationship but he would not accept that.”

They met by chance and she decided to speak to him to try and keep things civil between them but there was an incident and she ended up telling him she wanted nothing more to do with him.

“Despite that he continued to phone and text her, threatening to turn up at her home and she was becoming increasingly worried about what might happen if he did,” said Mrs White.

“There were 22 texts making threats against her, her property and her family, a voicemail threatening to smash her face in and 45 missed calls in one evening.

“He even made a comment about her son and knowing which school he went to.”

Wignall said she would get the same as a former partner, who he had assaulted. He was jailed for 20 weeks for those offences, which took place in Blackburn last year.

“She had to leave her home address and live somewhere else with her five-year-old son,” said Mrs White.