A WEST Cumbrian woman has been fined £50 after she shared a car with a man she was banned from having any contact with.

Since May 12, Alexandra Shaw, 46, of Jefferson Park, Whitehaven, has been under a legal obligation to stay away from the man - named in court papers - under the terms of a 28-day domestic violence protection order.

Magistrates make such orders to protect partners in domestic settings whom they believe have suffered violence or the threat of violence.

But on May 22, she shared a car with the man involved. She pleaded guilty to the offence when she appeared before magistrates in Workington.

Magistrates made no order for costs and the defendant was represented by defence lawyer Claire Kirkpatrick. Domestic violence protection orders are civil in nature but breaching them is a criminal offence. 

The orders usually last for 28 days. The idea is to give the parties in a troubled relationship "breathing space".