A PREGNANT woman has been handed a restraining order and fined after admitting sending abusive messages to a love rival on Facebook.

Laura Elizabeth Wilson, 26, of Henry Street, Shildon, County Durham admitted a charge of harassing her victim on social media when she appeared before the magistrates court in Newton Aycliffe this week.

John Garside, prosecuting, said: “The victim checked her phone about midnight on August 27 and found a notification from Facebook Messenger for messages from Laura Wilson.

“The messages were abusive and threatening in nature.”

The women had been friends for four or five years until they fell out over a man they had both been seeing at different times – the father of Wilson’s baby.

The victim said she had not sent any messages to Wilson and the abuse was unprovoked.

In a victim impact statement she said: “I have now blocked her on Facebook.

"This really affects my anxiety.

“I am scared to leave the house and feel like I can’t take my son to the park.”

Darren Brown, mitigating, said Wilson was about three months’ pregnant and there had been some issues with the man in question.

She then heard her victim had been calling her parenting capabilities into question.

“She took exception to that and sent those messages,” he said.

“She is deeply sorry for that,” added Mr Brown.

Wilson was given a 12-month restraining order and ordered to pay a £120 fine as well as a £30 victim surcharge.