A CONVICTED drug dealer has been jailed for continually hassling his grandmother for cash.

James Rollinson repeatedly pestered the retired pensioner for money despite there being a non-molestation order in place to give her some peace.

The 26-year-old, who was sentenced to 12 months in jail in July for selling drugs, left his grandmother too scared to leave the house or even look out of her window for fear of seeing Rollinson.

The sentencing hearing went ahead in Rollinson’s absence after he refused to take part in a video link conference from Holme House Prison in Stockton.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the defendant would knock at her door and ask for me or even follow her to the shops in an effort to beg her for more and more money.

Nigel Soppitt, prosecuting, said Rollinson’s grandmother was forced to take out the non-molestation order to curb her grandson’s demands for cash but confirmed that she only reported a small number if times he targeted her to prevent a rift in the family from growing.

Mr Soppitt said that over the course of few days the defendant had been given him nearly £150 but eventually she was forced to call the police to get him to stop.

In a victim impact statement, Rollinson’s grandmother said his behaviour caused her ‘great stress’ and left her ‘fearful’ of bumping into him in the streets.

“I know I shouldn’t give him money but it’s the only way that I can get him to stop,” she said. “This causes me such stress. I can’t go out in case he is there; every time I hear a knock at the door I fear its him.”

The court heard that Rollinson, of St Cuthbert's Road, Stockton, admitted to breaching the non-molestation order.

Alex Bousfield said he was unable to offer any mitigation for his client as he had refused to take part in a video call conference with him.

Judge Stephen Ashurst jailed the defendant for 18-months, which will run consecutively after he has served his earlier sentence from August.

He said: "It's quite clear that she's at the end of her tether. she can't face looking out of her window or going outside for fear of seeing James Rollinson."