A RESIDENT at a Carlisle probation hostel who was assessed as posing a "very high-risk" of serious harm to his ex-partner has been jailed for illegally contacting her.

Darren Higginson, 52, who was sent to live in the city centre hostel after his earlier offending, breached a restraining order by making a phone call to the woman for whose protection it was made. 

He did this between September 29 and October 1.  At Carlisle's Rickergate court, Higginson pleaded guilty to the offence.

The protective order was imposed in February and includes a prohibition on Higginson contacting the woman in any way, including by phone, magistrates were told.

But on October 2, she received a call and, after answering, she immediately recognised Higginson’s voice.  When the police quizzed him, Higginson refused to answer any questions. 

Adele Graham, defending, said the defendant suffered with “many mental health concerns,” and these were linked to his offending. After moving to Carlisle, he began taking the right medication and his mental health improved.

The lawyer added: “He’s aware of the severity of this and says that there will not be any more breaches.”

A probation officer in court confirmed that an assessment of the defendant, who is due to return to Ellesmere Port, had concluded that Higginson posed a "very high risk of causing serious harm" to his former partner.

It was concluded that he could not therefore, at this time, be managed in the community, the officer told the court. 

Magistrates imposed a 20-week jail term, with £85 costs and a £154 victim surcharge, payable when the defendant is released from custody.