Valentine's call may put man in jail

7:40pm Wednesday 27th August 2008

A MAN breached a non-molestation order by calling a woman to say ‘I love you’ on Valentines Day.

Lee Ryan made the call to Jane Arkle despite the county court order which was put in place in December last year.

Now the 34-year-old, who has already spent six weeks in custody on remand, could face the prospect of a further jail term.

Ryan, of Pinehurst Road, pleaded guilty to one count of breaching a non-molestation order when he appeared before a judge at Swindon Crown Court.

He pleaded not guilty to a second similar count which was said to have taken place just over a week later on Friday, February 22.

Colin Meeke, prosecuting, said the pleas to the two matters were acceptable to the crown and they would not seek a trial on the second matter.

Mike Pulsford, defending, told the court “The breach, you will hear, is a three second call on Valentine’s Day with a message ‘I love you’.

“He spent almost six weeks in custody on remand after his arrest.”

He asked the court to consider passing a conditional discharge on his client rather than adjourn the case for reports.

The judge was told Ryan had been convicted of common assault and breaching a civil injunction under the Harassment Act in November last year and put on a one-year community order.

In February this year he was convicted of breaching the non-molestation order when he appeared before magistrates and was put on 12 months’ supervision and told to do 80 hours of community service.

Judge Douglas Field adjourned the case to Tuesday, September 23, so the probation service could compile a pre-sentence report on him.

He released Ryan on bail on condition he observes a curfew and co-operate with the preparation of the report.

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