Prison for man who followed his ex the day after jail release

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THE day after being released from prison, a man breached a restraining order designed to protect his ex-partner, a judge heard.

Luke Wright, 27, of Foley Lane, St Paul’s, Cheltenham, who sobbed throughout the hearing at Gloucester Crown Court, was released from prison on December 12, prosecutor Susan Cavendar told Recorder Michael Parroy QC.

The next day in Cheltenham High Street he had a chance encounter with his ex-partner and their child.

He was prohibited from contacting them by a restraining order imposed on June 12, 2017.

But instead of walking way, he followed her.

She went into Primark to try to find security to help her, Ms Cavendar said, but could not. The woman came back into the street thinking he had gone, but he was still there.

She headed towards a jewellers and he appeared to back away.

The woman then returned to Primark once more, and noticed he was again following her. This time she called the police herself from inside the store and he was arrested later that day from a car by a leisure centre, Ms Cavendar said. Adam Williams, representing Wright, said his client had felt ‘emotional upheaval’.

Recorder Parroy said: “Well, I accept that, but the order is in place for previous emotional upheaval.”

Mr Williams said the situation was more difficult for Wright now a ‘child was involved’ but his client would would ‘keep to the terms of the order in future’.

Imposing an immediate jail term of eight months, the judge said: “Each you time you breach it you will get longer and longer in prison.”