A farm worker in Co. Clare has reportedly begged a judge not to send him to jail as he has cows to milk next year, according to Clare FM.

In a long-running case, a 24-year-old man has been warned that he will be sent to jail if he tries to contact a married woman whom he had allegedly been stalking, the local radio station added.

Ennis Circuit Court is understood to have heard how Conor Haugh – from Killballyowen, Cross, Co. Clare – had re-offended by contacting the woman.

He had previously received a suspended jail sentence of two years after he pleaded guilty to harassing the woman – who is in her 40s and lives on the Loop Head penisula – between February 2014 and January 2015, Clare FM added.

At the time of that sentencing, the presiding judge is believed to have warned the farm worker not to make any contact whatsoever with his victim or else he would end up serving the jail sentence.

However, it is understood that the state has re-entered the case after it emerged that Haugh breached the terms of his sentence by making indirect contact with his victim.

According to Clare FM, the court heard that Haugh was taking cocaine and cannabis at the time of re-offending as well as how he is now drug-free and hoping to secure residential treatment for his drug issues early in 2018.

Concluding, the presiding judge reportedly warned the farm worker that if he re-offends again he will serve time in jail.