A FORMER boyfriend breached a court order that banned him from contacting his ex-partner because he believed she had his bank card, a court heard.

Committing the offence has now led to 30-year-old Martin Forster being remanded in custody because the restraining order that he has admitted breaching was imposed only days earlier by a crown court judge.

Carlisle’s Rickergate court heard that Forster, of Bower Street, Carlisle, committed the offence on January 31. He contacted the woman involved and said he was staying in a local Travel Lodge Hotel that night.

He had breached the crown court restraining order within five days of it being imposed, the court heard.

Anthony Wilson, defending, said the only reason Forsted contacted the woman - leaving her a voicemail and going to her address - was that he urgently needed to recover his bank card to pay for daily living expenses.

This happened after the defendant was robbed, said Mr Wilson. “It’s alleged that £100 was taken off him in cash,” said the lawyer. From the dock, Forster said his mobile phone was also taken.

He had reported it to the police, he said. The person responsible for the robbery was an individual who was known in the courts system, said Mr Wilson. The lawyer added: “He went to get his bank card from her.

“That’s why he was desperate to see her.”

The defendant also admitted being drunk and disorderly in a public place on January 3. It happened at 7.30am and was discovered after police were called to an address in Carlisle because the defendant was “kicking off.”

When police arrived he ran away. The officers were called out a second time and on this occasion Forster shouted and swore at the police officers as he stumbled around, clearly under the influence.

Magisrates imposed a £40 fine for that latter offence but sent the restraining order breach offence to Carlisle Crown Court for a sentencing hearing on March 2. In the meantime, the defendant will remain remanded in custody.

Forster has recently lived at Atkinson Cresecent, Harraby.