A 39-year-old Douglas man has been fined £800 and handed a two-year restraining order after admitting harassing his former girlfriend.

David Edward McLellan, of Woodbourne Road, pleaded guilty to a charge of conduct amounting to harassment and was also ordered to pay £125 prosecution costs.

The offence was said to have occurred over a period between July 26 and August 4 when McLellan was said to have ’bombarded’ the woman with correspondence online, creating new profiles on social media after being blocked by her.

McLellan entered a basis of plea in which he said he had been in a relationship with the woman for more than three years.

He admitted that it had ended and that he had continued to contact the woman despite being made the subject of a Police Information Notice (PIN) which is also known as an Early Harassment Notice.

McLellan said he had contacted her to express how much he loved her and missed her, and wanted an explanation for why their relationship had ended.

He said he had been feeling depressed and his behaviour had been a cry for help.

He ended the plea saying that he wanted to apologise to the woman and accepted the relationship was over and would not contact her again.

Defending McLellan in court his advocate Ian Kermode said that there had been a long history of them being a loving devoted couple.

’He accepts he was very upset and distressed when things ended. He was not given an explanation and was simply expressing how much he missed her,’ said the advocate.

’He has accepted it’s time to move on and the relationship is over.’

Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes said: ’I take into account the period was relatively short and there were no threats.’