A woman was left terrified after an ex-partner came knocking on her door late at night – despite being banned from going near her Keswick address.
Christopher McKenzie, 37, was barred by a judge from having any contact with the woman for five years in March last year. McKenzie had assaulted his ex in the kitchen of her own home, pushing and grabbing her after losing his temper during a row.
But he ignored the legal order on June 7 when he went to an address in the town where a male friend of the woman answered her door.
There had been no direct contact between McKenzie and the woman.
But as McKenzie was sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court on Monday for breaching the restraining order, Judge Nicholas Barker observed: “In a witness statement she describes being terrified as a result of this defendant appearing.”
She had also spoken of being anxious and distressed by her former partner’s illegal activity.
The court heard of his “bad record for similar offending”. Prosecutor Andrew Evans explained: “There are previous convictions relating to the same complainant at the same house.”
There were previous restraining order breaches and other past offences in his record including disorderly behaviour and harassment. More recently he had been put on the sex offender register for exposing himself in a Penrith graveyard.
Marion Weir, defending, accepted that McKenzie’s criminal past was a “significant aggravating feature” in the context of his latest brush with the law. “That is born out of abuse of alcohol over the years which is something he accepts and understands is something he needs to deal with,” said the lawyer.
“He accepts now that no contact of any kind should take place otherwise he will find himself back before the court.”
McKenzie, of Albert Street, Penrith, was apologetic for his latest offence, added Ms Weir.
Jailing him for six months, Judge Barker said: “No doubt in the sober light of day, whilst you are sitting in Durham prison having been there for some weeks, you will see the error of your ways, in breaching the restraining order which is there for the protection of (the woman).
“You were no doubt drunk that night and in your drunken state you attended her address on June 7 when you should not have done.”
Judge Barker accepted there were no underlying offences committed on the night. But he told McKenzie: “You must understand she wishes to be protected from you. It is important you abide by the terms of this restraining order so she can get on with her life.”
