A LONGTOWN man flouted a court order — as he sought repayment of some money he’d lent a woman because he hadn’t eaten for four days.

Daniel Peachey, 32, was first brought before magistrates in October.

On that occasion, Peachey was made subject to a three-year civil stalking protection order at the request of police. This was in relation to his conduct towards another person.

One term of that order banned Peachey from entering an area of Longtown which was specified on a map he was given.

But he was produced at Carlisle Magistrates’ Court today (Monday) from custody after an incident on Saturday.

“This matter came to light because somebody complained to the police that the defendant had been knocking on her door,” said prosecutor Peter Bardsley.

“It transpired he had been knocking on her door. That was within the area covered by the terms of the order. He was interviewed.

“He said he had been to this person’s house because he had lent her £150 because she needed some help financially. He was trying to get part of this matter back. He admitted breaching the order in interview.”

In court, Peachey, of Moor Road, Longtown, formally pleaded guilty to the breach.

Defence lawyer Duncan Campbell said to magistrates it was not the usual type of court order offence. “You would expect the breach of an order would involve the person who was protected by the order. This has got nothing to do with them at all,” he said in his address to magistrates.

“It is wholly different.”

“Mr Peachey is subject to this order, takes that very seriously and has abided by it apart from this one occasion.

“He has gone into the (prohibited) area marked on the map. The person he was visiting, as you’ve heard, had been lent £150 some weeks before.

"On this occasion he (Peachey) had some financial difficulties and hadn’t eaten for four days.”

This, combined with mental health difficulties, had perhaps affected his thinking process. “His intention was to call at the address simply to ask for some of the money back in order that he could have some food,” said Mr Campbell.

He added of Peachey: “He is actually going to be leaving the area very shortly. He is going to be well away from where the order precludes him. He offers his apologies to the court.”

Magistrates fined Peachey £80 for breaching the order. He must also pay costs and a mandatory surcharge which took his total court bill to £197.