A MAN who sent letters, flowers and an abusive message to his estranged wife has been warned he faces jail.

David Pybus, 42, of Oxford Terrace, Cockfield, had a restraining order imposed on him by Newton Aycliffe magistrates, which was intended to prevent him having any contact with Vivienne Pybus.

But he repeatedly breached the order, including one breach on the same day the order was imposed, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Pybus pleaded guilty to five breaches of the order from February 1 to March 6, denying three others.

He admitted approaching and speaking to Mrs Pybus, leaving flowers and a handwritten note on her car, speaking to her outside her house and giving her a card, letter and flowers.

He also admitted shouting at her in her workplace car park and passing an abusive message to her inside a Mother's Day card from her son.

The case was adjourned until October 20 for a pre-sentence report.

Pybus, who works for a construction firm in Darlington, was bailed but with a number of conditions.

These were not to communicate or interfere with prosecution witnesses, particularly Mrs Pybus and her mother, not to enter Morrisons and its car park in Bishop Auckland and not to enter Willington except by prior appointment to visit his dentist.

He must also live and sleep at his home address.

The judge, Recorder Taryn Turner, said the breaches of the order were not isolated incidents.

She told Pybus: "You must understand very clearly that by giving you bail with conditions I am not giving you any indication of the likely sentence which will follow.

"You must be prepared for an immediate custodial sentence to be passed on you."