A 27-year-old breached a five year restraining order by meeting his ex and driving her car illegally.

Michael Scott Austin appeared before Furness Magistrates' Court on Thursday. (28)

Prosecutor Mr Lee Dacre explained: "The defendant was convicted of battery on October 21, 2014 and given a suspended sentence. He was also put under a retraining order until October 28, 2019 which reflected the seriousness of the offence. The defendant breached the order by going to the victim’s home every day for a week. He said he had been invited there to help with the children. He was also driving her car without a licence or insurance."

Austin, of High Cliff, Barrow, pleaded guilty to driving a motor vehicle otherwise than in accordance with a licence and using the car without third party insurance. He also admitted harassment by breaching the restraining order. All the offences took place on March 12.

Mr Michael Graham, defending, said: "This was an agreed meeting with the victim. It was consensual but against the order This was not the case of a breach with violence or that caused any psychological damage to the victim.

"A lot of people had see him driving the victim's car with her in the driving seat and her driving with him in the driving seat."

Magistrates said despite the meeting being consensual he had still breached the restraining order.

They put him under a 24-month community order and ordered him to pay a £60 victim surcharge, fined him £80 and £85 court costs.

He also had six penalty points put on his licence.