A rejected Sri Lankan husband who “relentlessly pursued” his ex-wife despite being told to leave her alone has been jailed for six months by a court in the north of Wales, UK.

Maligawe Akalanka, of Rivulet Drive, Wrexham, had come over from Sri Lanka to support his wife through her university studies.

But within two months of his arrival she had ended the marriage – leaving him “lovesick”, Wrexham Magistrates Court heard.

Since then he caused her “considerable psychological trauma” by persistently breaching a restraining order imposed on him.

The 26-year-old grabbed her arm in a supermarket, despite being under a restraining order not to approach her.

He also posted a letter through her door claiming he would not be able to play cricket because “all he could think about was her”.

Akalanka admitted three breaches of a restraining order – imposed on February 14 – and a charge of common assault and was sent to jail for a total of 180 days yesterday.

Damian Sabino, defending, said Akalanka had moved to Wrexham last year, leaving his job in Sri Lanka and taking up factory work in the area.

But within two months his wife – who cannot be named for legal reasons – told him the relationship was over and he had to move out.

Break-up of relationships and divorce are “unusual” in Sri Lanka, the court heard.

Justin Espie, prosecuting, said Akalanka was handed a restraining order on February 14 by Wrexham magistrates, only to breach it twice the next two days by calling his wife.

On arrest, he told police he did not understand the nature of a restraining order.

He was released on bail and told not to pursue his wife again but on March 16 he approached her in an Iceland supermarket.

Mr Espie said it was a chance encounter, but Akalanka “grabbed her arm and began speaking to her”, forcing other shoppers and supermarket staff to intervene.

Witnesses said that when she told him their relationship was over, he began to cry in the supermarket.

He was arrested and once again released on bail, having been “given a last chance”.

The final breach took place on April 8, when Akalanka posted a letter through the victim’s door.

The letter read: “My first friendly match is at Brymbo Cricket Club on Sunday, but I can’t play if I do not have a clear mind, when all I can think about is you.”

Mr Sabino said his client was having “serious difficulties dealing with the break-up of his marriage”, adding the restraining order had been “lost in translation”.

Sentencing, district judge Gwyn Jones said: “You were fully aware of the terms of that [restraining] order and an immediate custodial sentence is entirely justified.” – News North Wales