A man who used a phone cloning app to harass his ex has been ordered to keep away from her for five years.

Matthew Terry, of Dyson’s Hill, Honley, admitted using the computer software to ring his former partner Ruth Illingsworth’s phone.

Miss Illingsworth received calls from various numbers stored on her phone.

These were supposed to belong to her boyfriend and the Child Maintenance service but she was shocked when she picked up her phone and heard Terry’s voice on the other end.

The 35-year-old had pleaded guilty to a charge of harassment at Kirklees Magistrates’ Court.

The couple’s relationship ended in 2012 when Terry was cautioned by police for assaulting Miss Illingsworth.

He was then given a harassment warning when he sent the mother of his two children some abusive texts.

Calls and texts were made using an online app which cloned various numbers stored in her phone.

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Shamaila Qureshi, prosecuting, said: “Miss Illingsworth feels fearful as a result of him doing this - she doesn’t know what he’s capable of. She said she felt like a prisoner in her own home and his increasingly bizarre behaviour has unsettled her.”

District Judge Michael Fanning described the form of harassment as “unusual”.

He told Terry: “You’ve obtained a device to disguise your identity and this shows a degree of cunning.

“The root cause of your dissatisfaction seems to be your inability to see the children.”

Terry was sentenced to 120 hours of unpaid work.

Judge Fanning made a five-year restraining order banning him from contacting Miss Illingsworth.

He also has to pay £85 costs and £60 victim surcharge.