A MAN could face a five-year jail sentence if he makes any more phone calls to a teenage girl, a court heard.

Jimmy Bull, 32, was banned yesterday from contacting Kayleigh Kinnie, 19, or entering the Branksome estate of Darlington where she lives.

Bull, of Lansdowne Road, Darlington, pleaded guilty at Teesside Crown Court to putting her in fear of violence between last October and January.

He was given an 18-month community rehabilitation order with supervision and an indefinite restraining order.

The judge banned him indefinitely from going within 50 metres of her or communicating with her and her family.

No details of the calls were given at the hearing.

Graeme Gaston, in mitigation, said: "He pleads guilty on the basis of the number of the telephone calls.

"The parties have moved on and there has not been any trouble since these proceedings were initiated, and there is no objection to the restraining order.

"He knows that the maximum sentence were he to breach this order is five years imprisonment."

Mr Gaston said that the behaviour was out of character for Bull, and there was no reason why he should have any contact with Miss Kinnie or her family.

The judge, Recorder Simon Thorp, told Bull that the telephone calls amounted to harassment of her.

The judge added: "I agree with the pre-sentence report that your behaviour was offensive and deliberately intimidating to that young lady and put her in considerable distress.

"It appears you have told the probation service that you have moved on and I hope so, and there has been no trouble on bail or further interference with this young lady."