A former soldier breached a restraining order banning him from contacting his ex-wife – by texting his son.

Christopher Miller, 51, pleaded guilty at the magistrates’ court to breaking the court-imposed order.

He was before Oxford Crown Court on Tuesday (March 21) to be sentenced for the offence, which carries a maximum sentence of five years’ imprisonment.

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His brief, Gordana Austin, asked for the case to be put off for a month-and-a-half for her solicitors to get a psychiatric report.

She told Recorder John Bate-Williams: “It became obvious to me straightaway after a few minutes speaking to Mr Miller that clearly there are mental health issues as far as he is concerned.”

The Steeple Aston man was said to have made a number of attempts on his life and suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, albeit he had not been diagnosed. “He used to serve in the army,” Ms Austin told the judge.

In 2021, the police reportedly won a court injunction banning Miller from ‘loitering’ within 50m of any bridge over the railway, A34 or M40 in Oxfordshire or from causing alarm and distress to road or rail users by leaning over bridge safety barriers.

He was also prevented from walking in the carriageway on a number of main roads in the county or from entering railway company land unless to ‘travel promptly with a valid ticket’.

READ MORE: Civil injunction bans Oxfordshire man from leaning over road bridges

A Thames Valley Police spokesman said at the time: “The behaviour that Christopher Miller has displayed over a long period of time has caused many residents, members of the public and railway staff a significant amount of alarm and distress.”

On Tuesday, Recorder Bate-Williams said he would adjourn for the preparation of psychiatric reports ‘in light of the suggestion the defendant has shown some signs of having mental health issues’.

The case was put back until May 2.

Appearing in the dock dressed in a grey tracksuit and t-shirt, Miller spoke only to confirm his name.

Cathy Olliver appeared for the Crown Prosecution Service at the short hearing on Tuesday morning.

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