A MAN banned from texting his ex -partner sent her a picture of her friend naked in his bed, a court heard.

Burnley Magistrates Court was told how Shaun Holt was banned from contacting Nicola Coulson under a court injunction but had continued to harass her.

Holt, 30, who had earlier been given a community order for attacking Miss Coulson, admitted failing to comply with the non molestation order, assault by beating and breaching a conditional discharge.

The defendant had been told by a previous bench he would be getting a high community penalty and District Judge Peter Ward said his hands were tied.

The judge said: "In view of the indication given to you I cannot impose a custodial sentence but I am bound to say that otherwise I might have had that in mind."

Holt, of Bright Street, Padiham, received a community order with 12 months supervision and 200 hours unpaid work.

He must pay £200 compensation and £75 costs. He had previous convictions.

Elizabeth Read, prosecuting, told the court last December Miss Coulson took out the injunction and Holt was prohibited from using or threatening violence towards her, was not allowed near her Padiham home and was banned from harassing her or pestering her.

On March 13, Miss Coulson was at her home, Holt arrived and climbed in through the window. He demanded to know who she was having sex with and left through the kitchen window.

A friend came to see if the victim was alright and the defendant climbed back in through the kitchen window. Miss Coulson ran to the front door but Holt pulled her back, causing her to fall on the carpet.

He then let go of her, took her dog from the garden and left. Miss Coulson called police and they attended, but she did not want to pursue a complaint. That evening, the defendant sent the victim a picture showing her friend naked on his bed.

She would say she was constantly harassed by him. Holt told police he thought Miss Coulson was jealous because he was seeing someone else.

Holt had earlier been given a community order for assaulting Miss Coulson and had also got a conditional discharge for breaching the injunction.Police had been called out over the couple 26 times since 2000.

David Leach, defending, said the relationship between the pair had been problematic. The solicitor added: "After the injunction she used to contact him on a regular basis and had gone to his address and his parents' address on several occasions and invited him back to her home."