A man battling alcoholism subjected an ex-girlfriend to two months of harassment, a court heard.

Lee Costello, 35, plagued the victim with abusive phone calls and swore at her in the street, magistrates were told.

One call was heard by a police officer who was shocked by the language aimed at the woman, the court was told.

Costello, of Pennine Court, Macclesfield, admitted harassment without violence on July 1, the day a trial was set to begin.

Last Wednesday, magistrates in Macclesfield, handed the dad of one a 12 month community order with curfew, supervision and alcohol treatment. He was also given a two year restraining order.

Prosecutor Joanne Clarke told the court that the offence took place between January 2 and March 3.

She said: “The victim was the defendant’s girlfriend for nine years and they have a four-year-old daughter together.

“During this period on one occasion the complainant used abusive words. He stood outside her house and shouted.

"He also made phone calls using similar language. He made 10 to 15 calls in one hour. One of the calls was made in front of a police constable who was shocked by the language used. The defendant has been served stop harassment orders before. He told police that wanted to arrange a visit with his daughter. He told officers he realised he was being stupid."

Sam Flixter, defending, said Costello, a former scaffolder and landscape gardener, was battling alcoholism.

He said: “This is a bit of a sad state of affairs. They were in a relationship for nine years, but two years ago the relationship broke down. He felt aggrieved that he could not contact the victim to see his daughter. When he saw her going past the window he shouted abuse at her. He has got a drinking problem. It has become very serious.”