A CARLISLE man involved in a “toxic” relationship with a local woman spent a night in custody after he flouted a court ban on contacting her.

Richard Farish, 41, was given a domestic violence protection order last month after a court ruled that he had either used or threatened the woman with violence. The order, due to expire on April 18, bans any contact for 28 days.

Yet after the domestic violence protection order was approved, the defendant, of Howard Court, Carlisle, sent the woman text messages.

He admitted breaching the order.

“The messages are not threatening in themselves but they are manipulative, designed to go behind the purpose of the domestic violence protection order,” said police lawyer Gail Heard.

The purpose of the order, she explained, was to give the parties breathing space during which they can reflect and seek advice and support.

The lawyer said there was a background of domestic violence allegations, including a claim that Farish threw a litre bottle of water at the woman before pushing her against a wall and causing her to fall.

The relationship began in the latter part of last year but 999 calls were being logged by January of this year.

“It’s a truly toxic relationship,” said Miss Heard, explaining that there had been no "honeymoon period" and that the situation had quickly moved to actual or threatened violence.

Steven Marsh, for Farish, said the defendant sent the texts in response to a phone call from the woman and the messages he sent seemed to bear this out. As a result of the messages, Farish had spent a night in custody.

District Judge John Temperley said he hoped that experience had underlined for the defendant the seriousness of complying with the court order.

He accepted that the three messages sent by Farish were not threatening. But he warned Farish that if he were foolish enough to make any further contact with the woman while the order is in force he would be locked up.

The District Judge fined the defendant £200 and imposed costs of £250.