A WOMAN tried to make her married lover leave his wife by making a series of malicious phone calls, a court heard yesterday.In them, she claimed he was gay and may have caught sexually transmitted diseases.

A WOMAN tried to make her married lover leave his wife by making a series of malicious phone calls, a court heard yesterday.

In them, she claimed he was gay and may have caught sexually transmitted diseases.

The calls began when Christine Cherrill, 50, found out that her lover, Roger Bell, was married so she decided to ring his wife, Karen, and make up hateful stories about his behaviour to force them to split up.

But Yarmouth Magistrates Court heard that it was not Mrs Bell who answered some of the nasty calls - but her shocked 15-year-old daughter.

Cherrill, of Station Road, Ormesby St Margaret, near Yarmouth, told the daughter that her father was sleeping with men and women and should have a check for sexually transmitted diseases, including AIDS.

Other calls said that Mr Bell “was up to his old tricks again” and claimed he was a cross dresser and frequented gay bars.

Yesterday Cherrill was ordered to carry out 160 hours unpaid work after pleading guilty to persistently making use of a public communication network to cause annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety between July and October.

Elizabeth Houghton, prosecuting, said: “A number of malicious from the defendant were made to the Bell household. There were seven in total.

“They caused great upset and distress to the family. This has caused immense stress in the matrimonial home.”

Magistrates heard that Mr Bell and Cherrill, who runs a guest house, had known each other before they started the affair in May.

She made the calls after she found out that Mr Bell was married and wanted him to leave his wife.

After the series of malicious phone calls Cherrill sent a letter of apology to the Bell family which said: “I am deeply sorry for my actions. I am ashamed.”

Annette Hall, representing Cherrill, said: “There are no words that can ever make up for the distress she has caused.

“She was led to believe by Roger Bell that the marriage was over. She was trying to force him to be a bit quicker to leave the matrimonial home.

“It is a shame it has come to this.”

The court was told that the starting sentence for making such calls was 12 weeks prison - but after hearing that Cherrill had no previous convictions and was very remorseful magistrates ordered her to carry out 160 hours unpaid work.

Chair of the bench Mike Ross said: “You believed her husband was a free agent when you started your relationship with him.

“But you have got to understand the anxiety and distress you caused to the family.”