A grieving dad who made illegal contact with his ex-partner through a Facebook phone call will be sentenced by a crown court judge later this month.
Several years ago, 57-year-old Andrew McClements was made the subject of a restraining order with strict terms which banned him from contacting his former girlfriend.
But last Friday night, September 30, he called the woman through Facebook Messenger. He was described as intoxicated during a call which was recorded and handed over to police. “She described herself as shocked and scared,” prosecutor George Shelley told Carlisle Magistrates’ Court.
The court heard McClements — who admitted flouting the restraining order — had a significant history of similar breaches. He fully accepted he shouldn’t have made contact on the latest occasion while it was stressed he had no intention of causing her harassment or alarm.
McClements, of Derwent Street, Cockermouth, had been drinking alcohol at the time he committed the offence and was distressed about his late son, whose funeral he had not been allowed to attend. “He wanted to find out where his son was buried so he could lay some flowers there and say some prayers,” said defence solicitor Duncan Campbell.
After learning McClements had also previously been made the subject a community order at Carlisle Crown Court — in September 2021 — the district judge, John Temperley, ruled that the defendant should be sentenced there for his latest breach.
McClements is due be punished at the crown court on October 31, and was granted bail in the meantime. The defendant told the court as the hearing concluded that he intended to seek both professional help for his drinking, and bereavement counselling.
