A JUDGE has warned a gym boss to be ‘careful’ when he enters into a new relationship after he was made the subject of a restraining order.

Christopher Walsh admitted sending an article of an offensive nature to a former partner when he appeared before the bench at South Cumbria Magistrates’ Court.

Walsh, of Chapel Street in Dalton, runs Walshy’s gym in the town.

The court heard the 33-year-old sent a message that was ‘indecent or grossly offensive nature for the purpose of causing distress or anxiety to the recipient’.

The message was sent to his ex-partner Kelly Griffiths between October 1, 2020 and February 16, 2021.

Sentencing him, district judge John Temperley sent a warning.

He said: “When you enter into a new relationship you need to be particularly careful.

“This is your second conviction in a relationship, familial or otherwise.”

The judge chose not to order compensation be paid.

He said: “I don’t think she wants money.

“What she wants is not to be hassled by you again.”

Walsh was previously convicted of assaulting a woman.

Judge Temperley sentenced the defendant to an eight week curfew, keeping him at home between 9pm and 7am.

He also made the defendant the subject of a restraining order for nine months.

Under the order he is banned from contacting the woman directly or indirectly.

The judge said the length of time was appropriate given the shortness of the relationship.

The court also handed down a £95 surcharge to fund victim services and prosecution costs of £85 for bringing the case to court.

In 2017 Walsh was found guilty of assaulting a woman by beating following a trial.

The defendant was ordered to complete 180 hours of unpaid work and told to pay costs of £620.

Walsh is a former champion bodybuilder.