A former Bermuda Regiment soldier contacted a teenaged girl more than 1,200 times in a 20-day period breaking a court order barring him from communicating with her for a second time.

Anthony Steede, 47, of Bat N Ball Lane, Sandys, pleaded guilty in Magistrates’ Court yesterday for breaching the order by contacting the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

He admitted to calling the girl 1,292 times between February 23 and March 14 this year and was sentenced yesterday to six months imprisonment and two years probation. The court was told, however, Steede had breached the order on at least one other occasion.

Crown counsel Cindy Clarke told Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo, Steede was convicted on February 14 this year for breaching the order by texting the girl 74 times between 5.35 a.m. and 11.43 p.m. on October 27, last year.

He was given a $2,000 fine and two-year probation order, with the conditions that he has no contact with the girl, either through texts, phone calls or friends.

In June 2006, the girl’s legal guardian became concerned about an inappropriate relationship, which had begun between Steede and the girl.

She complained to Child and Family services and obtained a Protection Intervention Order, under the 1988 Children’s Act on September 22.

The Act states that a Protection Intervention Order can be made as long as the court is satisfied that the person’s contact with a child causes, or is likely to cause, the child to suffer significant harm.

Under suspicion that Steede continued to contact the teenage girl, regardless of his probation and the protection order, Police conducted an investigation.

A search warrant for records at the Cellular One store in April this year provided evidence Steede continued to contact the girl through a phone he had bought for her.

On April 12, Police arrested Steede who said: “What did I do? What did I do? I didn’t contact anyone.”

Defense lawyer Rick Wooldridge told the court the phone calls were not of a sexual nature and Steede contacted the girl because she was going through a difficult time.

Steede, however, said: “I maintain what I said about not contacting her. The effect of this order has changed my life. My life has not been my own since July 2006.

“The reason I pleaded guilty is because I want my life back. I’m tired of being in the hands of Police and the courts. If you send me to prison today I’ll be happy.”

Mr. Tokunbo said: “Sending you to jail is inevitable. You were given a chance the first time you breached your probation.”

Mr. Tokunbo revoked the probation order Steede was given on February 14 this year and sentenced him to six months imprisonment with two years probation.

He was also told the probation will require him to refrain from contact with the girl and he will be subject to any order from court services.

Soldier locked up for breaching probation