A 48 year old man has appeared in court charged with breaching a restraining order by contacting the mother of murdered Devon teenager Scarlett Keeling.
Toby Riccard is accused of breaching the order in November 2013 at Holsworthy, Devon, when it is alleged he made contact with 49 year old Fiona McKeown by sending her a special delivery letter despite the restraining order being imposed by North Devon magistrates several weeks earlier.
Riccard, who claims he lives in a shed in the Holsworthy area, also faces four charges of sending by the public communication network an offensive, indecent, obscene of menacing message between November and December last year.
Riccard appeared at Exeter Crown Court but did not enter any pleas to the charges.
But Judge Graham Cottle said Riccard needed legal assistance in the case.
One solicitor, Nick Bradley, was approached but told the court he could not help because of an ongoing protest against legal aid cuts imposed by the Government.
Mr Bradley told the judge that solicitors nationwide, and particularly in this area, are in dispute with the Government over the proposed changes to legal aid.
He said:"In order to bring it to the Government's attention a decision has been taken locally and in other areas, that we will not take further Crown Court legal aid work for people facing trials."
Mr Bradley said the action, desciribed as a 'protocol', was being taken in this region by firms in Exeter, Plymouth and Torbay and the was being reviewed regularly.
Judge Cottle said Riccard was facing serious offences.
He said some progress had to be made in the case even though the prosecution said the CPS was unsure 'how long the strike is lasting'.
The case was adjourned until later this summer and Riccard was bailed.
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