AN EX-HUSBAND harassed his former wife and assaulted her new partner 15 years after they were divorced, York Magistrates Court heard.

Andrew Martyn Cook, 50, began a campaign of constant phone calls and texts in July 2018, said Julian Tanikal, prosecuting.

He and his wife had separated in 2001 and divorced with an agreed settlement in 2003.

But between July 1, 2018, and July 19, 2018, he made 84 attempts to phone his former wife.

On July 19, he went to her home at 10.30pm and shouted at her and her current partner before punching the man in the face.

In a victim personal statement, his ex-wife said: “The impact has been massive."

She said she feared Cook would come back to her house and that she was suffering from stress as a result of his crimes

Cook, of Helmsley House, Lawrence Square, off Lawrence Street, York, pleaded guilty to harassment and assault.

He was made subject to a lifelong restraining order banning him from contacting his ex-wife and her current partner by any means or going into the street where she lives.

“The seriousness of this offence lies in the impact on the victim,” said district judge Marie Mallon as she gave him a 12-month community order with 20 days’ rehabilitative activities.

For Cook, Adam Henry said: “He has substantial mental health problems.”

He said Cook had shown him a carrier bag of medicine he said he had to take.

Cook called out that he had been discharged from a York psychiatric unit a few hours before his court appearance.

A probation officer told the court Cook was an isolated and lonely man whose mental health issues could be a reason why he had committed the offences.

Cook had not shown remorse when he interviewed him, the officer said.

Mr Tanikal said the woman’s current partner suffered minor injuries.