A CARLISLE woman was left fearful after her ex-partner subjected her unwanted visits and scores of unwanted calls.

Thomas Earl, 32, reportedly said that he was “not going to stop” contacting the woman and that he was not bothered how long it took as he wanted to “put things right”.

After hearing a detailed account of his behaviour since last year when the woman said she wanted no further contact with him, a district judge approved a three-year stalking protection order to curb the defendant's behaviour.

This bans Earl from having any contact with the woman and he could be arrested if he ignores the order.

At Carlisle’s Rickergate court, Cumbria Police barrister Lujzka Halsall-Fischel outlined the background – including alleged stalking behaviour - which the force says justifies the order.

She said the defendant and his former partner had separated in September of 2022 but remained living in the same property while they resolved various issues arising from the breakup.

The defendant’s unwanted behaviour – which prompted the police application – began after the former couple reached a housing agreement and the woman said she wanted no more contact with Earl.

Miss Halsall-Fischel outlined a catalogue of unwanted contacts throughout September and October last year. On September 27, Earl made 57 unwanted calls, while on another occasion as a police officer took the woman’s statement, he called 30 times.

On October 22, as officer took another statement, he called 22 times. The contacts came also in the form of visits and calls on unknown numbers, said the barrister.

On occasions, he called her to say he was sitting in her car. Earl continued to behave in this way, despite the woman repeatedly telling him to stop and explaining that he was scaring her. "He's fixated," said the barrister.

He continued contacting the woman even after he was arrested on suspicion of stalking.

Miss Halsall-Fischel added: “There is evidence of her being fearful and very stressed. She had installed a video camera and never knows when he will turn up.” The woman had been left feeling scared in her own home.

District Judge John Temperley invited a response from Earl, of Green Lane, Belle Vue, but he declined to comment.

Approving the three-year order, the District Judge said he was satisfied to the criminal standard that Earl carried out acts associated with stalking, that he poses a risk of more such behaviour and that the order was necessary to protect the woman involved.

The order includes an exclusion zone around the woman's home which Earl must not enter. The defendant must also allow the police on request to inspect his phone.

“When the complainant made it clear that she didn’t want any further contact with Mr Earl, there were numerous instances where he made contact with her,” observed the judge, adding that this behaviour caused the woman continuing psychological harm.