A JUDGE this week ordered a psychological report on a man who is accused of harassing the mother of Goa murder victim Scarlett Keeling.

Toby Riccard sobbed in the dock at Exeter Crown Court and covered his ears with his hands every time the name of alleged victim Fiona McKeown was mentioned.

He is accused of breaching a restraining order by sending her a letter in October 2013, at a time when he had moved out of a property she was renting to him.

Riccard, aged 48, lived for several months in a shed in a field on the edge of Holsworthy, North Devon, but is now on a tagged curfew at a friend's home in Bere Alston.

He was due to stand trial in front of a jury but his barrister Glenn Corrasco asked the judge to adjourn the case to allow the defence to obtain a psychological report.

He explained it had been impossible to arrange for a psychologist to meet Riccard because he lost touch with his solicitors after his mobile phone broke last year.

He said Riccard was living at such a remote address that he could not receive any post but has resumed contact since moving to the Bere Alston area.

Recorder Mr Marcus Tregilgas-Davey adjourned the case for two months and granted Riccard bail on conditions which include not contacting Miss McKeown or going to her property at West Lodge, Bradworthy, near Holsworthy.

Miss McKeown is the mother of Scarlett Keeling, the 15-year-old girl from Devon who was murdered on a beach in Goa, India, while on a family holiday.