A MAN banned from contacting a police officer, who once arrested him for a driving offence, has admitted breaking his restraining order.

David Alan Pitman was made subject of a restraining order in 2017, stopping him from contacting PC Rebecca Starks.

But in February this year, he sent PC Starks an email – breaching the order.

He admitted the offence during an appearance at Southampton Magistrates' Court.

Magistrates ordered him to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and pay a total of £170 in court costs.

As previously reported in the Echo, the 51-year-old was stopped by PC Rebecca Starks on suspicion of driving without insurance on Scotter Road, Eastleigh in 2017.

While PC Starks attempted to obtain Pitman’s details at the scene, he became aggressive and pushed her to the ground, resulting in an injury to her knee.

Pitman was arrested and charged with driving without insurance and assaulting a police officer.

However, during the bail period he continued to harass PC Starks over email.

Following his conviction, Pitman, of Hamilton Road, Eastleigh, appeared at Southampton Magistrates’ Court where he was handed a 12-week jail sentence for assaulting a police officer, and an additional 12 weeks for harassment – for which he was also handed a restraining order.