Man spared jail after admitting harassment

Andrew Reed made forbidden phone calls to his former girlfriend and sent almost 200 messages to a man he claimed owed his family money.

Reed, 34, of Midgeland Road, Marton, pleaded guilty to breaching a restraining order and harassment.

He was sentenced to a 12- month community order with up to 15 days’ rehabilitation to be supervised by the Probation Service, fined £50 with £60 victims’ surcharge and ordered to pay £50 compensation to each victim by Blackpool magistrates.

Reed was also put on a five-year restraining order not to contact his ex except through lawyers regarding civil proceedings over their family home, and a one-year restraining order not to contact the man except in relation to civil proceedings.

Presiding magistrate, Sylvia Kirby, told him: “We have been discussing custody. You caused fear and distress to two victims.”

Pam Smith, prosecuting, said Reed and his ex had split up after an eight-year relationship and he was later banned from contacting her after he was found guilty of harassing her.

On December 13 Reed twice rang his ex and on the second occasion told her about his medical condition. In a victim’s impact statement she said she had had to move address to get away from Reed. In another incident, Reed sent a man 195 What’s App messages asking for money he claimed the man owed his family.

Suzanne Mugford, defending, said around the time of the offences Reed was diagnosed with a brain tumour.