THESE are the names of the defendants convicted of harassment, stalking or breaching a restraining order by magistrates in less than a month.

Each of these defendants was sentenced at Poole Magistrates' Court between January 11 and February 7.

There is no strict legal definition of 'stalking', although such offences may include following a person, watching or spying on them or forcing contact with the victim through any means, including social media.

Harassment offences also cover a broad spectrum. Victims may have been caused distress or intimidation by abusive comments or insulting gestures.

Restraining orders are usually given by a court when a defendant has been convicted of a range of offences, from harassment to putting someone in fear of violence.

To report similar offences to police, visit dorset.police.co.uk

CHRISTIAN DAVID DODSON, aged 33 and of Tinkers Lane, Wareham, admits harassing a person in Verwood on dates between September 26 2018 and October 8 2018 by sending repeated messages and phone calls which were unwanted and caused distress. Community order made. The defendant must comply with an electronically-monitored curfew for two months and a rehabilitation activity requirement for a maximum of 20 days. Restraining order made until February 2021. To pay an £85 surcharge, to pay £135 costs. Also admits the commission of a further offence while subject to a conditional discharge order for a period of 12 months for obstruct / resist PC. No action taken on breach.

CARL BAVERIDGE, aged 52 and of Plantation Drive, Walkford, admits stalking a person on dates between November 11 2018 and February 2 by sending numerous text messages after being asked to stop contact, hacking into her Facebook account, contacting her place of work and egging her car. Discharged conditionally for 18 months. Restraining order made until February 2020. To pay a £20 surcharge, to pay £85 costs.

DANIEL WHELAN, aged 31 and of Jessie Road, Portsmouth, admits harassing a person on dates between July 7 and October 11 2018 in Bournemouth by sending numerous emails, texts and other messages. Community order made. The defendant must comply with a programme requirement for 43 days and a rehabilitation activity requirement for a maximum of 20 days and carry out 200 hours of unpaid work within the next 12 months. Restraining order made until January 2021. To pay an £85 surcharge, to pay £85 costs. Also admits conviction of an offence while a community order for battery x 2 and breach of a restraining order were in force. No adjudication - dealt with for original offence.

JOSEPH JOHN HURD, aged 28 and of Garsdale Close, Bournemouth, admits harassing a person in Bournemouth on dates between December 13 and 25 2018 by phoning her and visiting her. Restraining order made until January 2020. Fined £250, to pay £100 compensation, to pay £85 costs.

TIMOTHY DAVID STRUTT, aged 25 and of Denmark Lane, Poole, admits failing to comply with the requirements of a community order made for breaching a restraining order by failing to report as directed on three occasions. No adjudication - dealt with for original offence. Committed to prison for four weeks. Also admits commission of a further offence while subject to a conditional discharge order for a period of 18 months for breaching a restraining order. No adjudication - dealt with for original offence. Committed to prison for four weeks concurrent. Also admits breaching a restraining order on January 12. Committed to prison for four weeks consecutive. To pay a £115 surcharge, to pay £85 costs. Also admits failing to comply with the requirements of a community order made for assaulting a person by beating her by failing to report as directed for unpaid work on two occasions. No adjudication - dealt with for original offence. Committed to prison for four weeks concurrent. Also admits failing to comply with the requirements of a community order made for failing to stop after an injury collision and failing to report an injury collision by failing to report as directed on two occasions. No adjudication - dealt with for original offence. Committed to prison for four weeks consecutive. Overall length of sentence - 16 weeks.

JOHN CRAWFORD, aged 43 and of Hill Crest Road, Poole, admits harassing a woman on dates between August 2017 and October 2018 by sending unwanted messages, gifts, cards and flowers and making comments on social media. Community order made. The defendant must carry out 100 hours of unpaid work within the next 12 months. Restraining order made until January 2020. To pay an £85 surcharge, to pay £85 costs.

JOHN ANDREW BURRELL, aged 52 and of no fixed abode, admits breaching a restraining order in Stourpaine on January 31. Fined £50, to pay a £30 surcharge. Also admits breaching a restraining order in Weymouth on January 29. Fined £50. To be detained in the courthouse. Detention deemed served by reason of time already spent in custody. Also admits the commission of a further offence while subject to a conditional discharge order for a period of two years for assault. No action taken on breach.

DANIEL JOSEPH CORBETT, aged 31 and of McDonagh Avenue, Eire, admits breaching a restraining order in Christchurch on September 5 2017. Fined £100, to pay a £30 surcharge, to pay £85 costs. Also admits commission of a further offence while subject to a conditional discharge order for a period of two years for criminal damage and assault. No action taken on breach.

STEVEN KENNETH WHYTE, aged 32 and of Belle Vue Road, Bournemouth, admits breaching a restraining order on December 2 2018 by trying to call a person on four occasions when prohibited from doing so. Community order made. The defendant must participate in an accredited programme for 42 days. Fined £400, to pay an £85 surcharge, to pay £85 costs. Also admits the commission of a further offence during the operational period of a suspended sentence order for drug driving x 2. Suspended sentence of 16 weeks imprisonment suspended for 12 months amended by extending the operational period to 15 months.

MARTIN PATRICK CASHIN, aged 25 and of Northmere Drive, Poole, admits breaching a restraining order on December 25 2018 by contacting a person directly and indirectly by phone calls and messages. Fined £400, to pay a £40 surcharge, to pay £85 costs. Also admits the commission of a further offence while subject to a conditional discharge for a period of 12 months for making a malicious communication. No action taken on breach.

EDWARD STUART CARTER, aged 40 and of Curlew Road, Christchurch, admits breaching a restraining order on January 6 by messaging a person. Community order made. The defendant must comply with a rehabilitation activity requirement for a maximum of 10 days and carry out 50 hours of unpaid work within the next 12 months. To pay an £85 surcharge, to pay £85 costs.

GERALD ANTONY HINTON, aged 54 and of Rosedale Gardens, Bodmin, admits breaching a restraining order in Poole on December 2 2018. Committed to prison for ten weeks. To pay a £115 surcharge. Also admits breaching a non-molestation order. Committed to prison for ten weeks concurrent.