A NORTHWICH man who flouted an anti-harassment injunction by continuing a long-running campaign against Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWAC) has been jailed for three months.

Robert Pickthall, 61, was given the injunction in July, 2015, after bombarding CWAC with thousands of emails accusing officers and councillors of crime and misconduct.

Pickthall continued his campaign and in December of last year he was given a suspended prison sentence for breaching the order.

In June of this year, an application to commit Pickthall to jail over the breaches was postponed after Pickthall became ill.

On July 15, applications brought by Pickthall seeking £1 million damages from CWAC were struck out.

Pickthall was in the dock again on July 20 as CWAC argued the suspended sentence should be activated for contempt of court due to eight further breaches of the order.

Judge Mr Justice Michael Soole sentenced Pickthall for three months in prison and ordered him to pay legal costs of £5,000.

He imposed no additional penalty for the latest eight breaches.

Following the sentence, Vanessa Whiting, director of governance for Cheshire West and Chester Council, said: “Proceedings were brought against Mr Pickthall because of an excessive and persistent campaign by him against officers and members involving vitriolic communications and online posts.

“The council began legal action in May 2015 following Mr Pickthall’s rejection of our proposal that he gives suitable undertakings not to harass officers or members.

“He was given a suspended prison sentence in December 2015 for breach of an injunction order under the Protection from Harassment Act.

“Following further breaches of this order, a High Court judge yesterday sentenced him to three months imprisonment and ordered him to pay £5,000 in legal costs.

“The judge also struck out three claims brought by Mr Pickthall against Cheshire West and Chester Council as being totally without merit.

“This case demonstrates that the council will not tolerate harassment of its officers or members and is committed to taking protective action where appropriate.”