MAGISTRATES have approved a 28-day domestic violence protection order against a 43-year-old Carlisle man.

George Kirkpatrick, of Brownrigg, Morton, who was not present at Carlisle's Rickergate court when the Cumbria Police application was decided, has been banned from contacting a woman for whose protection the order has been made.

The order prohibits Kirkpatrick from "harassing or pestering" the woman, or contacting her in any way throughout that 28 day period.

This includes a prohibition of him contacting her through text or social media; and nor can he get a third party to contact the woman on his behalf. Magistrates ruled also that the defendant must pay the £1,127 costs of the proceedings to Cumbria Constabulary.