Belfast Magistrates’ Court imposed the two-year SPO on Tuesday on a 46-year-old man who stalked and harassed his 50-year-old ex-partner.

According to the PSNI, the order was issued after the court heard how the defendant had refused to stop contacting his ex-partner and her son and harassing her family members. The defendant would also turn up at her home address on a number of occasions.

The order will remain in place for two years as a criminal investigation progresses and prevents the man in question from contacting the woman or her family by any means, including on social media and prohibits the locations he can go to in her local area.

Only the police can apply for an SPO, breaches of which are a criminal offence which can result in a sentence of up to five years’ imprisonment.

Detective chief superintendent Lindsay Fisher of the PSNI’s public protection branch said: “Throughout this case the victim has shown huge bravery and we’d like to commend her and her family for their support in our application for this protection order.”

In an anonymised statement released via the PSNI, the victim said: “I have waited years for a law to protect me and my son. I am so thankful that there is now an order in place that can protect us.

“I hope this gives other victims some hope that there is help available. I am so happy, I feel I don’t have to live as a prisoner in my own life anymore.”

Ms Fisher added: “SPOs provide another tool for us to help protect victims and improve their safety. This is the first time we have obtained a SPO and marks a huge milestone for Northern Ireland since new legislation was introduced only a number of months ago.

“We are seeing continued positive policing in this area with alleged offenders being arrested weekly. We will continue to raise awareness and encourage victims to come forward with the knowledge that we now have over 5,000 officers and staff trained to recognise and respond and that they take all reports seriously.

“The operationalisation of SPOs allows our officers, like in this case, to take swift and decisive action, putting restrictions in place and ultimately being ready to enforce breaches, treating them as criminal offences.

“Our readiness to take action in this way we hope will have a hugely positive effect on the confidence people have in coming forward, knowing that in Northern Ireland we take stalking incredibly seriously.”