AN Eden Valley man has been banned from contacting a vulnerable woman amid alleged reports of domestic violence which include a chilling threat to throw acid at her.

At Carlisle Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, police lodged an application for a domestic violence protection order (DVPO) to be served on 26-year-old Christopher Edward Stainton.

DVPOs, rolled out across all police forces in 2014, are civil orders. They fill a gap and provide protection to complainants following domestic violence allegations - enabling police and courts to offer protection where there is insufficient evidence to charge a person or impose strict bail conditions.

When granting DVPO applications, magistrates must be satisfied on the balance of probability that there has been violence or a threat of violence.

An application was made in the case of Stainton, said a prosecutor, to protect a highly vulnerable woman with whom he had formed a relationship.

Disclosures had been made to them which alleged that Stainton, of Renwick, near Kirkoswald, had: sent abusive messages to the female; called her names; threatened to burn down her friends’ houses; thrown things; and broken down doors.

“There is also a rather alarming threat that he was going to throw acid at her,” said the prosecutor.

He suggested that Renwick’s alleged conduct “more than meets the test” for imposition of for what he said was a “necessary” DVPO.

“This would provide 28 days of respite in order to allow her to engage with relevant support agencies,”  the prosecutor added.

Magistrates also heard the woman was without a fixed address and at present was unwilling to support any formal prosecution.

They agreed that a DVPO should be made. This prohibits Stainton from having any contact with her, directly or indirectly, including by telephone or through social media. Neither can he go without 200 metres of any address at which he believes her to be present.

Stainton was not present in court for the hearing.