A MAN who constantly harassed his former girlfriend was issued with a restraining order at Lincoln Magistrates' Court.

Jason Blake, who is thought to have obsessive compulsive disorder, had pleaded guilty to the harassment charges at a previous court date and the case was adjourned for psychiatric reports.

He was originally due to be sentenced in July, but the reports had not been finished.

The court heard that his ex-girlfriend was horrified when she went into a shop to avoid Blake and saw missing person posters with her photograph plastered on a noticeboard. Daniel Paulson, prosecuting, said: "They were in a relationship for 18 months and it ended on the instigation of Mr Blake.

"It appears he had a change of heart and began to get back in touch.

"His ex-partner reported it to the police, who warned him to stop, but this did not alter his behaviour.

"She changed her signing-on day to avoid personal contact with him, but he found out when the new day was."

On a previous occasion the court heard how Blake, who now lives in Shipton Road, Scunthorpe, sent his former partner 80 texts in one day.

He also found out her new day for signing-on and waited at the job centre with a birthday card for her.

Mr Paulson said: "She has submitted a personal impact statement saying she now feels nervous going out alone in public.

"She wants all contact with Mr Blake to stop."

In mitigation, Blake's solicitor, Mark Watterson urged the magistrates to go along with the recommendations in the reports that had been prepared.

He said: "Although I think my client would take issue with some of the statements made, he is satisfied for the recommendations in the report to be followed.

"The restraining order was discussed and the defendant is content to submit to it."

Magistrates issued Blake with the restraining order, banning him from contacting his ex-girlfriend or entering Lincoln for a year.

He has already been following these conditions while out on bail and the court heard that there was no reason that the conditions would be breached at any point.

Blake was also sentenced to a community order with a supervision requirement and instructed to co-operate with the mental health help he would be given.

He also has to pay £45 towards prosecution costs.