A 43-year-old east Suffolk man accused of stalking his former partner will have to wait until May 2026 for his trial to take place because of the backlog of cases in the criminal justice system.

Before Ipswich Crown Court on Thursday was Colin Barnes, who is of Minden Road, Lowestoft.

He pleaded not guilty to stalking his former partner causing her alarm and distress between January and June this year.

It is alleged he told her that if she had another man in her bed he would kill her, waited for her to return from a night out, approached her while she was in a nightclub, went to her home address, sent a food delivery to her house, asked her if she need money and emailed her giving her an ultimatum about rekindling their relationship.

Barnes’ trial, which is expected to last five days, will take place during a two-week warned list commencing May 5, 2026.

Recorder Sarah Przybylska allowed Barnes’ conditional bail to continue.