A former share fisherman from Penryn who was given seven police warnings because of the type of messages he was putting on the internet, was brought to court after one of the recipients complained to the police.

Christopher Thomas Churcher, 24, of Saracen Close, had also put out messages on Facebook to Faye Louise Haynes following a neighbour dispute.

At Truro Magistrates’ Court he pleaded guilty to harassing Ms Haynes by sending unwanted messages to her in March, and instructing another person to send similar messages to her on his behalf.

Kevin Withey, for the CPS, said Ms Haynes had at one time been a neighbour of Churcher, but was not now. After Churcher sent messages to her in 2014, under a pseudonym, she told the police, and he was given a formal warning. Despite that, he continued to send to her.

In March this year he sent out derogatory comments about her and her family, calling them “vile” “scum” and “bullies.” He sent other messages to her using different names. When the police questioned him he said he had been doing it because he was bored, and that he could not stop himself.

Churcher had no previous convictions, but in addition to the seven previous warnings he had been given, for sending unwanted messages to other people, he had police cautions for assault and racially aggravated harassment.

Paul Simons, for Churcher, said he had fallen out with the complainant’s family in a neighbour dispute.

Churcher was given a conditional discharge for 12 months and had to pay £105 costs and charges.