A man from Lowestoft who was banned from contacting his ex-partner threw a Frisby to her dog during one encounter, a court heard.

Wayne Barratt appeared for sentencing at Ipswich Crown Court on Wednesday.

The 62-year-old had been charged with stalking a woman between April 19 and May 20 last year.

He was also charged with having broken a restraining order, which had banned him from contacting the woman, either directly or indirectly, or from entering a specified area in Lowestoft.

The court heard that Barratt, of Marine Parade in Lowestoft, was arrested for harassing a former partner on March 27 last year. The restraining order was imposed on April 19.

On May 9, the victim was walking her dog along the beach in Lowestoft, following a route which Barratt knew she used regularly.

She encountered Barratt, who in her view “had no reason to be there”.

She attempted to turn away and avoid Barratt, but he then threw a frisbee, a toy which he knew her dog particularly liked, the court heard, which landed at the dog’s feet.

The following week, the woman received a call from the James Paget University Hospital relating to Barratt. He had, she learned, given the hospital her phone number and said that she was his next of kin, which was not the case.

The court heard that several times leading up to May 20, the victim saw the defendant at locations close to her home.

In her victim personal statement, she wrote that she had taken to keeping all doors and windows shut, and worried constantly about seeing Barratt.

The court heard that Barratt originally denied both charges before magistrates in May 2023 but changed his pleas to guilty in March this year.

Since last year, it was heard that Barratt has made progress, having completed an alcohol abstention requirement and worked to change his behaviour.

In light of Barratt’s positive progress, Judge Richard Kelly decided not to order immediate custody.

Instead, he sentenced Barratt to nine months custody for breaching the restraining order and three months for stalking, to run consecutively. This total of 12 months has been suspended for two years.

Barratt will also complete 80 hours unpaid work and will be monitored electronically for 12 months, to ensure he does not enter the specified area in Lowestoft.

“It’s over to you, Mr Barratt, if you are serious about rehabilitating yourself,” said Judge Kelly. “You know what the consequences are if you don’t.”