A TAUNTON man blamed his dog after he broke a restraining order.

Aaron Edwards, 27 of Hardys Road, Taunton had been handed the order on January 8 after assaulting a woman in Bathpool last summer.

But within days of the hearing, Edwards was spotted on the road he was prohibited from visiting, Taunton Crown Court heard during the sentencing on Friday, February 16.

Speaking for the prosecution, Harry Ahuja said: "There was an order put in place prohibiting Mr Edwards from going to the address. An order he broke within a matter of days.

"She was in the front room of her flat when she saw Edwards on the path outside, and when he rang the buzzer she pulled the cord out so it would no longer work," Mr Ahuja said.

Edwards came by again the following day, the court heard.

On Wednesday, January 17 the complainant spotted him again, this time walking past with his dog, and she called the police.

"When he was arrested he denied breaching the restraining order and said the dog had pulled him toward the flat on its lead," Mr Ahuja said.

Defending Edwards, Susan Cavender said: "He is a hard working long distance lorry driver and he says he just wanted to speak to her."

Judge Erik Salomonsen said: "You were handed a restraining order following a serious offence of violence and you breached it within a matter of days.

"Your excuse about your dog was rubbish."

Judge Salomonsen sentenced Edwards to two months in prison, suspended for a year. He was also sentenced to 100 hours of community service, the restraining order retained, ordered to do up to 35 days of rehabilitative activity requirement and ordered to pay £415 costs.