Man with learning difficulties sentenced for breaching restraining order

Andrew Auld, who suffers from learning difficulties and issues with his memory, was banned from contacting the woman after a restraining order was imposed on March 11, last year, but he continued to do so and breached it on three dates.

The 49-year-old was convicted of breaking the order by a jury following a trial at Winchester Crown Court on September 10. He appeared at the same court on Friday to be sentenced.

The court was told that on December 21, last year, Auld went to the woman’s home in Wales Street and saw a family friend coming out of the address after helping her put up a Christmas tree.

Judge William Mousley QC said: “He told you what he was doing, you said to him who the f*** else is there.” Auld starting calling the woman.

On January 1, this year, a police officer attended his address in The Valley, Stanmore, and the woman was present. He was arrested and shouted her that “it was her fault”.

He also attended the victim’s address on another occasion on October 18, 2020.

The court was told that the victim also suffers from learning difficulties and often changes her attitude towards Auld.

In a victim impact statement, she said: “My ex-partner won’t leave me alone, he keeps calling me even though he has a restraining order.

“I’ve had a lot of text messages from him. Messages from him everyday asking me to meet him.

“I’m frightened of Andrew, he has hurt me a lot of times before and he will turn up again.

“He won’t leave me alone no matter what the courts do to him, he doesn’t care.”

In mitigation, Chloe Jay said that the victim rings Auld “almost everyday to find out his whereabouts”.

She added that Auld has been working with Inclusion, a drug and alcohol service, and is keen to work with Probation.

Auld has been on a curfew for 256 days which was an equivalent of an eight- or nine-month sentence.

Judge Mousley handed Auld a community order for two years with 20 rehabilitation days.