A MAN banned from contacting his estranged wife sent her mobile phone texts saying special forces would have to be called to apprehend him, and compared himself to Raoul Moat.

Kirk Eden, 37, of Rocklee Gardens, Little Neston, was made the subject of a restraining order in August 2009, banning him from contacting his wife Kim Eden, of Neston, until August 2014.

Appearing at Chester and Ellesmere Port Magistrates Court on Monday, Eden admitted texting his wife on October 5 and 6.

Prosecuting, Rob Youds told the court that Mrs Eden saved five of the text messages sent by her ex-partner to show police.

One of the messages read: “Police will have to call special forces for me, I’m no Raoul Moat.”

Referring to her new partner and on-going civil action between the couple, another text read: “I’m going to destroy him with court action, game on” and “I’m looking forward to war.”

Mrs Eden reported the matter to the police a couple of days later and he was arrested and interviewed on October 8.

In interview he initially claimed to not have bought the phone until October 7, two days after the first contact had been made.

The August 2009 restraining order prohibited him from contacting Mrs Eden, except through solicitors, contacting her new partner and banned him from specified areas of Neston.

When police challenged him about the saved text message, Eden asked for the interview to be suspended.

Defending, Becky Hay claimed that contact had been resumed by Mrs Eden while the defendant had been serving a recent prison sentence, when she had written to him.

She also claimed that Mrs Eden had sent him text messages on the same day he’d bought a new phone.

Mrs Hay said: “The victim started this contact which brings this defendant’s culpability right down.”

She highlighted an incident in which Mrs Eden and her new partner shouted at Eden as he walked down Liverpool Road, Neston, when he had walked away without becoming involved.

Magistrates ruled that sentencing for the breach should take place at Chester Crown Court due to the seriousness of the offences and the nature of the history between the couple.

Eden was refused bail and remanded into custody until his next appearance.