A Milton man stalked his partner over the course of several days after the demise of their 13-year relationship, a court has heard.
Warren Graeme James Carr (43) was now resigned to the fact the relationship was over, counsel Alex Bligh said.
She told the Dunedin District Court yesterday the break up had been ``very confusing'' for her client.
``Sometimes they're on and sometimes they're off. That's what led to the offending.''
Carr previously pleaded guilty to two representative counts of breaching a protection order.
On April 28, he called police to tell them his ex-partner was driving home from Dunedin with unrestrained children in her car.
It did not take much leg work by officers to uncover Carr's lies.
The woman was being interviewed by police at the time.
Days later, Carr made a report about the victim driving with unrestrained passengers.
But when police pulled the woman over, there was no such issue.
On May 9, Carr followed the woman in his car for a kilometre as she drove her child to kindergarten and the stalking continued later that day.
As she was walking home with a friend, she saw the defendant driving slowly in his car and peering down her driveway.
Then at her friend's house the next day, the woman spotted Carr drive past the property six times.
``The defendant's offending has left the victim feeling she is being stalked and constantly being watched by him,'' a police summary said.
Ms Bligh argued the breaches of the order were at the low level and stressed they had not involved actual violence or threats.
``While I accept there is no physical injury to the victim, clearly on those two breach of protection order charges you've shown a willingness not to let go,'' Judge Brian Callaghan said.
``I know that can't happen overnight but you had absolutely no right to carry out the type of actions you have.''
Carr also pleaded guilty to an aggravated charge of refusing a blood specimen (to test alcohol levels), possession of cannabis and possession of a pipe from September 20.
They were his first drug convictions, Judge Callaghan noted.
Carr was sentenced to three months' community detention, 120 hours' community work and nine months' supervision.
He was banned from driving for a year and a day.
