Man in court after Valentine's Day roses delivery

Paul McAllister (43), originally from Larne but whose address has now been given as Grange Valley Grove in Ballyclare, appeared at Antrim Magistrates Court on Tuesday because sending the flowers was in breach of a Non-Molestation Order.

He pleaded guilty to the charge and was given a one year conditional discharge.

A prosecutor said no name was on the card which contained just an ‘x’ and because the woman didn’t know who it and the flowers were from it made the recipient “anxious and fearful”.

It was then established through the firm the flowers came from that they were sent by McAllister.

A defence lawyer said the case involved McAllister’s estranged partner and “foolishly” on the approach to February 14 he contacted the ‘A Flower Lady’ florist in Larne and six red roses were sent along with a card containing an ‘x’.

The lawyer said McAllister didn’t appreciate it would be a breach of the Non-Molestation Order.

The lawyer said the flowers were received on Valentine’s Day but the complaint was not made until February 17 when McAllister was arrested at 12.05am and brought to custody.

There was nothing sinister or threatening but it was contact and McAllister has “learned his lesson” that there cannot be any sort of contact, said the lawyer.

District Judge Oonagh Mullan said it was the first breach and although “foolish” she said she had to take into account the full admission.

She told McAllister: “You may have thought you were making some sort of amends”. However, she said there was an Order in place and it must not be breached.