A BARROW pensioner has been given a restraining order after harassing his neighbour by hurling abuse at him.

Michael Cooper, 66, persistently targeted Carl Butler by shouting and swearing at him between December and January.

Both men live in McClean Close in Barrow.

At South Cumbria Magistrates' Court on Thursday magistrates heard Cooper had stuck up his fingers at Mr Butler and left fat balls for birds around the outside of his flat.

At an earlier hearing this month, when Cooper was found to have breached his bail conditions, prosecutor Lee Dacre said: "You stuck up two fingers at Mr Butler and swore at him.

"Your behaviour was persistent and abusive.

"You placed fat balls around his property and shouted at him."

In response Cooper said: "He was saying stuff back to me too.

"I was only giving as good as I got."

District Judge Gerald Chalk said Cooper had breached his bail conditions preventing him from contacting Mr Butler and he was remanded in custody.

A neighbour had offered to house Cooper until his next court appearance but given the proximity of this address to the victim this was rejected by the court.

Cooper, who was represented in court by Maureen Fawcett, had initially denied harassing Mr Butler but on Thursday he changed his plea to guilty.

He was given a six-week curfew requiring him to remain indoors between the hours of 6pm and 8am.

He was also given a two-year restraining order preventing him from contacting Mr Butler directly or indirectly.

Cooper was also told to pay a £90 victim surcharge and £150 court costs.