BOUNCY castle entrepreneur Robert Thorp was barred by a court order from contact with his estranged wife, even on the telephone, after he had been convicted of harassing her.

But he did not let that stop him. He used his mobile phone's text messaging system up to 70 times to ensure Emma Thorp was aware that he knew she had a new relationship, Harrogate magistrates heard yesterday.

Thorp, 33, who hires out children's bouncy castles for leisure functions, sent messages including: "It's pay back time soon'' and "twenty days and counting'' as the end of a nine-month restraining order banning face-to-face and verbal contact drew nearer.

Sarah Tyrer, prosecuting, said Thorp, of Manor Grove, Killinghall, Harrogate, also professed his love for the mother of his two children aged 12 and 11, but warned that he would not sit back and lose his business and the marital home.

When Thorp pleaded guilty to harassment, his solicitor, Andrew Tinning, said many of his text messages had been in response to those sent by Mrs Thorp, who had originally sought the restraining order after he had taken the children from Harrogate's Hydro swimming pool to visit his father in Wales without her knowledge.

Thorp had a history of depression and she had been worried about everybody's safety.

But in contrast, his latest messages were a countdown to the end of the order and a response to feelings he believed Mrs Thorp still had for him. Others had been aimed at "winding up" her new boyfriend.

Mr Tinning said Thorp now understood his marriage was over and wanted to make legal arrangements for access to his children.

Court chairman Mary Tennant fined Thorp £100 with £69 costs and warned him he had to behave correctly if he wanted contact with his children.