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A HEREFORD man has breached a restraining order by showing up at his ex-partner's house after 10 years of no contact.

Karl Singleton, 36, pleaded guilty to harassment by breaching a restraining order when he appeared before magistrates in Hereford last month.

Hereford Magistrates' Court heard on September 17 that the incident took place at a woman's home in Leominster on January 27.

Singleton's mother had suggested that they visit a close relative who lived at the same address.

Prosecutor Camila Toscano said that the defendant and his mother knocked on the woman's door and spoke to her. The court heard that Singleton's mother told the woman: "We're just here to see [relative's name]. We're not here to argue."

Singleton told the court: "I turned up at her address [to see my relative] who I haven't seen for eight years, with my mum. I didn't turn up to cause any aggro."

Singleton initially argued that the restraining order was no longer valid because the woman now lived at a different address.

He claimed that he "had his name put down as a solicitor" but later admitted that he was not a qualified lawyer.

After an appointment with the duty defence solicitor Marilena Divitantonio, Singleton returned to the courtroom and entered a guilty plea.

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Ms Divitantonio, speaking for Singleton, said: "It was the idea of his mother to go to the address. The encounter was extremely brief and they left when the door was closed."

She said that Singleton is currently out of work and "waiting for a new project", and has been reliant on friends and family. 

Magistrates fined Singleton £80. He must also pay court costs of £85 and a £26 victim surcharge.