A Workington man who admitted assaulting his ex-partner and sending a message threatening to “stab” her has been handed a restraining order.

Gary Peter Christopher Lamb, 29, whose address was given as Chaucer Road, appeared by video link from prison at North and West Cumbria Magistrates' Court today after being remanded in custody in May.

Lamb had previously pleaded guilty to assault by beating of his ex-partner on Tuesday, May 18 at Workington, and admitted he sent by public communication network an offensive, indecent, obscene or menacing message to her.

Peter Kelly, prosecuting, told the court Lamb had been in a relationship for about six years which had ended.

He had then sent a message to his former partner saying that he had ruined her life, followed by a message on Facebook asking if they could get back together again.

The messages then took a turn as Lamb threatened that if he saw her with another man he would “stab” them both.

Lamb went around to see her and assaulted her by punching her, hitting her head, and the court heard that he “pinned her down on a sofa”.

District Judge John Temperley was told that at one point the victim was “cowering in a corner” as a result of the sustained assault.

Sean Harkin, defending, said this was an “isolated” incident and that Lamb was very sorry and remorseful.

He said Lamb now accepted the relationship was over, having been in custody since May 22 with “time to reflect”.

The judge said Lamb had served a short prison sentence while on remand.

He said there was possible lasting emotional harm done to Lamb’s ex-partner as a result of the offences.

The judge ordered that Lamb be placed on a community order for two years and would attend a 25-day rehabilitation activity programme, with 30 days of a Building Better Relationships programme.

Lamb will also wear an electronic tag as part of a house curfew for 16 weeks between 7pm and 7am and must pay court costs of £180.

A two-year restraining order was also imposed, forbidding Lamb from having any contact with the victim or visiting the street she lives on.