A Policeman accused of stalking the mother of his child told the court that he was never told about a restraining letter which was taken out against him.

It is alleged that Robert Butterfield followed his ex-girlfriend on several occasions between July 1 and July 25 last year and acted in an abusive manner.

Butterfield, 36, of Old Military Road, St. George’s, denies the stalking charge.

Yesterday, Butterfield told Magistrates Court the only reason he attended the residence of his ex-partner on July 22 was to pick his 20-month-old daughter up.

He said: “I went to her door and knocked. No one answered so I opened the door to see if anyone was there and I saw her and her mother in the bedroom. The baby was on the bed so I went and picked her up.

“I asked when I would be allowed to see my daughter and she just told me to leave and that she was tired.”

He alleged that when he left the home his ex yelled: “You are never going to see your daughter again. When I go to the US I am not coming back.”

The two have a custody agreement in the US but do not have one in Bermuda, though Butterfield said he was allowed to see his daughter on a daily basis while his ex was on the Island.

After he left the home he told the court he called the Police and asked them to deliver a letter to his ex and waited in his car outside her residence for officers to arrive.

Earlier in the trial Supervising Sergeant Ann Phillips told the court that she received the call from Butterfield and told him about the restraining letter. She said she told him to stay away from the house.

But yesterday, Butterfield said he was never informed about the letter. When Sgt. Phillips arrived at the home on July 22 she arrested him.

He appeared in Magistrates’ Court on July 24 and was released on bail. The following day he went a store in Southside, St. David’s, to pick up groceries when he saw his ex, her mother and his daughter shopping there as well.

“I turned to go as I was feeling uncomfortable but then the baby started making noises,” he said as tears welled in his eyes. “It’s my baby and I just went over and picked her up and showed her love like I always do.

“I asked her mother again when I could see my daughter and she said she would call me and was tired of all this. I told her I did not want trouble I just wanted to see my baby,” he told the court.

Later that evening he was told by a friend that Police were looking for him. Butterfield turned himself into the Hamilton Police Station and was informed he was under arrest.

At the close of yesterday’s session Butterfield, who has been representing himself after firing two lawyers, said he was never aware of a restraining letter taken out against him and that because the two live in close proximity it was coincidental that they bumped into each other often.

Magistrate Juan Wolffe has asked this newspaper to exercise discretion in naming the complainant, and an editorial decision has been made not to do so.

Butterfield is currently suspended from the Bermuda Police Service. The trial continues.