A man has been jailed and told to “grow up” by a judge – after being found hiding in his ex-partner’s garden.

Police found Anton Mann, 34, lurking behind some shrubs in Sherburn-in-Elmet, North Yorkshire on January 28, a court heard.

They had been alerted by probation officers who suspected Mann could be at the woman’s home after going to his home and discovering he was out.

According to the York Magistrates’ Court, he is under the restriction of two court orders issued by two separate courts that prevent him from approaching the woman. One of these court orders had only been issued 13 days prior.

Mann, of Low Street, Kilburn, pleaded guilty to breaching a restraining order made by Leeds Magistrates’ Court after he was convicted of harassing the woman and guilty to breaching a non-molestation order made by the Family Court.

He has other similar convictions, Kathryn Walters, prosecuting, said.

“You have learnt the hard way, I am afraid to say, if you breach court orders there is a penalty to face,” district judge Adrian Lower told him and warned him that unless he accepts the break-up of the relationship, he will be in and out of jail.  

“Time to grow up Anton Mann,” the judge said as he jailed him for 12 weeks. Mann must pay £85 prosecution costs and a £154 statutory surcharge.

The restraining order had been made on January 15 by Derby Magistrates’ Court when Mann was given a community order, including wearing an alcohol abstinence tag for 120 days and other requirements, after he pleaded guilty to harassing the woman with continual phone calls and messages, breaching the non-molestation order made on March 28 last year by continual phone calls and messages and failure to attend court.

The judge revoked the community order and included jail terms for those offences in the 12 weeks. Both the restraining order and non-molestation order remain in force.

For Mann, Brian Nuttney said he had gone to the woman’s house to collect items he needed for job applications. He claimed the woman had contacted Mann.

“Foolishly, he went round,” said Mr Nuttney. “There is no suggestion of harm or distress caused by this action.”

Mann had suffered from depression and anxiety for 15 to 20 years and had recently been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, the court was told.

He had turned to drink and used it to block out negative thoughts and “things going on in his head”, said the solicitor. Drink was a factor in his offending.

The Derby sentence had caused friction between Mann and his new housemate in Leeds because it meant he had to wear an alcohol abstinence tag.