A SUPERMARKET worker has been banned from approaching his ex-partner for two years.

Andrew Cameron McBeth, 40, was described in court yesterday as “controlling”.

He could not accept the relationship was over and bombarded his former partner with text messages.

At one stage, McBeth, of Thornfield Avenue, Connah’s Quay, sent up to 30 texts a day as he tried to rekindle the relationship, said prosecutor John Wylde.

The victim had been in a relationship with McBeth which she described as increasingly volatile.

He would become aggressive and on May 14 she ended the relationship.

Police removed McBeth from the address amid allegations of volatile behaviour.

He took the separation badly and continued to make contact with her.

Mr Wylde told Flintshire magistrates a mobile phone company report detailing the texts ran to 200 pages.

McBeth, who pleaded guilty to harassment, had two similar previous convictions – for harassing his late father and a former partner.

In the latest case, some of the text messages expressed his love for Tracey Jones.

Some of them called her names and other were abusive.

The harassment was taking its toll on Miss Jones’ health and she felt McBeth was trying to make out he was the victim, the court heard.

She alleged he had tried to get her family and close friends to turn against her and she felt isolated through no fault of her own.

The experience had left her feeling scared, as if McBeth were stalking her, the court in Mold was told.

Fiona Larking, defending, said while the messages would have caused harassment, they were not threatening.

At the time McBeth was hurt, could not accept it was over and sent the messages.

He knew it was wrong and took responsibility for his actions, the solicitor said.

McBeth did have a restraining order not to harass a former partner but had gone on to have an eight-year relationship and a child with her.

There had previously been difficulties between McBeth and his father but they had reconciled before his death, the court heard.

McBeth now accepted the relationship with Miss Jones was over and he did not want any future contact.

He wanted to get his life back on track and eventually move out of the area.

McBeth lived on his own but had a job working shifts at Asda, said Miss Larking.

McBeth was placed on a two-year community order with supervision and he was sent on an integrated domestic abuse programme run by the probation service.

A restraining order was made that he had no contact with Miss Jones, her son, mother or brother but magistrates were told McBeth and her brother worked at the same store.

The employer had put them on different shifts and magistrates said it would not be a breach of the order if there was contact during the normal course of employment.