Man sentenced to 'solitary,' but not jail

GALEN EAGLE, Ontario, June 14 (UPI) -- An Ontario man with anger management issues has been given probation and ordered by a Canadian judge not to have a girlfriend for the next three years.

The unique "solitary" sentence was handed down Wednesday in a Galen Eagle courtroom to 24-year-old Steven Cranley in connection with a violent argument that broke out Jan. 17 with his estranged girlfriend and her roommate.

The fracas resulted in the two women being beaten by Cranley, who also cut phone lines in the home to prevent them from calling police.

Cranley was diagnosed after his arrest as having a "dependent personality disorder" that makes him unable to handle rejection, the Peterborough (Ont.) Examiner reported.

Prosecutors said Cranley would pose a threat to anyone he became romantically involved with. The judge agreed and ordered him to stay away from romance for three years while he undergoes counseling.