AN ASHBURTON man has admitted sending an unwanted Chinese takeaway meal to his ex partner during a campaign of stalking, writes a Crown Court correspondent.
Craig Hocking, aged 30, of Balland Park, pleaded guilty to causing serious alarm and distress by stalking between December 29 to January 22 and breaching a restraining order between January 5 and 27.
The stalking charge specifies that contacted his ex partner through false social media profiles and online accounts, made numerous calls to her phone from withheld numbers and sent an unwanted Chinese meal to her home.
He pleaded not guilty to breaching a restraining order by contacting the same woman between December 29, 2022 and January 6, 2023.
Miss Caroline Bolt, prosecuting, said Hocking had entered a basis of plea on the counts to which he admitted which is not accepted. She said there would have to be a trial in relation to the count he denied.
Hocking appeared by video link from Exeter Prison and was remanded in custody by Judge Anna Richardson pending a trial listed for September 21 this year.