A PENSIONER has been fined after she was spotted parked near her ex-husband's house on Boxing Day.

Dorothy Fletcher admitted breaching a non-molestation order when she appeared before magistrates in Hereford.

The 78-year-old is banned from going within 100 metres of her ex-husband's property by the order, prosecutor Eleanor Peart said.

But, on December 26, she had driven to the estate where he lives, remaining in her car, and was photographed there by his partner.

In a statement, her ex-husband said the incident had reignited his fears as to what she would do next and that he and his partner were reluctant to answer their phones as a result.

In interview, Fletcher said she was fully aware of the order and admitted going near the house, saying she had stopped to have a drink of tea in her car.

She told police she was emotional as it was Christmas.

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Edmund Middleton, for Fletcher, said that, in his submission, it was a minor breach, as she had not made any attempt to contact her ex-husband or his partner but had simply sat in her car.

"It was only by chance that he became aware of her presence, because his partner told him. It was not an aggressive action," he said.

The court heard the couple had been married for 50 years before their relationship ended, and that Fletcher had stopped by the estate after spending Boxing Day volunteering at a church soup kitchen.

"Her family live in Australia and she found herself alone and took the decision to drive there at an emotional time of year," Mr Middleton said.

Fletcher, who is of Newtown, in Martley, was fined £200 and must pay costs of £185 and a £34 victim surcharge.