A man has been banned from a Whitehaven town centre shop after pleading guilty to a harassment charge.

Andrew Blythe, 49, of Moor Row, appeared before magistrates in Workington on Friday and admitted sending numerous unwanted letters to Lisa Torrence between December 1 last year and February 10.

Blythe was handed a 12-month conditional discharge and banned for a year from entering WH Smith in Whitehaven or contacting the victim.

He was also told to pay £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.