A man who flouted a court order by having illegal contact with his ex-partner three times in two days has been jailed.
Christopher McKenzie, 36, told a court he had been arrested by police on Saturday and then remanded in custody, before adding: “I’m quite upset I missed Christmas.”
Carlisle Magistrates’ Court heard today how McKenzie approached the woman in Keswick on the afternoon of December 20, asking whether she wanted a Christmas present before giving her £20.
After the woman went to do some shopping she returned to her address and found McKenzie sitting on a sofa in her living room, he having let himself into the property. He left after her partner came home.
The following day McKenzie returned to her address and was allowed in, even though the woman didn’t want him there. He stayed for a number of hours before she called police and he departed.
When McKenzie appeared in court this morning he admitted three breaches of a five-year restraining order which had been imposed by a crown court judge in March, 2022. This followed his conviction for assaulting his ex in the kitchen of her own home.
From the dock McKenzie told the district judge, John Temperley, he accepted meeting the woman in Keswick town centre on December 20 but claimed she approached him.
He didn’t recall twice visiting her house on successive dates but accepted there was evidence to the contrary. He spoke of suffering from schizophrenia which affected his memory.
McKenzie, of no fixed address, admitted being a heavy drinker but said he was seeking professional help. He insisted he would stay away from the woman in future.
The district judge jailed McKenzie for a total of 22 weeks, saying an immediate custodial sentence was “inevitable”.
