A STALKER repeatedly went to his former partner’s home and sent her a teddy bear which said, ‘I need you in my life’.

Andrew Burns, 32, had been in a relationship with the woman for 11 months before she broke up with him and blocked his number.

He began turning up to her house and left the victim and her children feeling ‘scared’, Workington Magistrates Court heard.

Burns was given a three-year restraining order after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing to stalking without fear, alarm, or distress.

Outlining the case, prosecutor Pamela Fee said Burns and the victim had known each other since secondary school and they began a relationship in early 2023 after the victim fell out with her previous partner.

In February this year, she ended the relationship with Burns and blocked his number. She told police he would ‘go on about money’ and made her feel like she owed him something.

She then saw he had messaged her on Instagram so she blocked him on there. On February 9, Burns turned up at her house and was throwing stones at her window. He was there for about 10 minutes and the victim was ‘shaking’ in her bed.

In another incident, he tried to stop her getting out of her car and said he wanted to talk. She told him there was nothing to say.

He stuck his foot between the front door and the doorframe of her house. She told him again there was nothing to say and threatened to phone the police.

The victim said her children had been in the house and her eldest daughter was ‘scared’. Her daughter was shouting at him to go away and went to get a frying pan.

The victim messaged Burns’ sister to tell her he had been round again and told her she would call the police if he came round again.

The victim had then received a card through the letterbox from Burns. She also received an Amazon parcel on her doorstep and when she opened it, there was a teddy bear inside which said, ‘I need you in my life. I’m sorry’.

On another occasion, she came home and saw a hand written letter had been put through the door with a poem. Burns had then turned up with a TV which did not belong to the victim. He appeared a few minutes later and was looking into her window.

A victim personal statement read to the court said: “I’m scared he will get into my house. All I want is for Andrew to leave me alone.

“Since the incident I no longer like staying in the house on my own. My eldest daughter is scared when she is at home. I have struggled to sleep.

“My life has totally changed since we split up.”

Burns was arrested and interviewed by police. He gave ‘no comment’ to all the questions asked of him.

The court heard Burns had previous convictions for a domestic incident in 2016 and three battery offences in 2019.

Ms Fee said there had been psychological harm to the victim and the offence was aggravated by the presence of children.

Burns, who was not legally represented, said: “I understand I have got some issues with my emotions when it comes to the end of a relationship. I have seen my doctor. It can’t continue.”

Magistrates imposed a two-year community order with a 30-day building better relationships programme, 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 100 hours of unpaid work.

A restraining order was also granted which bans the defendant from contacting the victim or going to her address for three years.

Burns, of Ullswater Avenue, Whitehaven,  must pay £85 costs and a £114 victim surcharge.