A CHESTERFIELD man was soon back behind bars for contacting his pregnant ex-partner in defiance of a restraining order.
Steven Hatt committed the offence immediately after being released from a lengthy prison sentence imposed in March for assaulting Leander Hawkins.
Andrea Charity, prosecuting, told town magistrates that Ms Hawkins’ mother complained to police that Hatt, 21, had tried to make contact via Facebook and the Blackberry messaging service.
“He asked a friend of hers to ask if she was okay and how the baby was. Leander was nine months pregnant. He sent her a ‘friend request’ on Facebook,” said Mrs Charity.
“She says she doesn’t need this stress. She is scared of him and doesn’t want him near her or her child.”
Hatt, of Melling Close, Grangewood, appeared in court in custody, having already been recalled by the prison service.
He admitted breaching an indefinite restraining order prohibiting him from contacting Ms Hawkins between September 14-17.
Presiding magistrate David Sobczak locked him up for 17 weeks.
“To say it was a foolish offence would be an under-statement. It started on the day he was released from prison,” said Bob Bashforth, for Hatt.
“The child he believes to be his is due to be born any day. He just wanted to establish some sort of friendly basis and he would say his actions were benevolent and not intending to harass her.”
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