Was harassing his ex-girlfriend

He was Jonathan McDonald, Old Bleach Green, Banbridge, and at a previous court he had pleaded guilty to four offences.

McDonald admitted harassment of a female on February 6 and February 7 this year, harassment of a different female between February 5 and February 8 and harassment of a male between February 3 and February 8.

For each offence he was sentenced to five months in prison, suspended for two years.

A two year restraining order was also imposed.

The court heard that a female reported to police that she had been receiving text messages, Facebook messages and phone calls from the defendant and felt harassed.

She was stressed and anxious in relation to the matters.

Police spoke to the defendant and he accepted that he sent the messages and made the phone calls.

The public prosecutor explained that McDonald wanted to speak to the female and felt her parents were exerting an undue influence on her.

A barrister representing the defendant said he was trying to get in touch with his estranged girlfriend.

He added that the relationship was over and McDonald was asking for one last chance to speak with her.

He had strong feelings for the girl.

The barrister said that due to the volume of messages that were sent it could be viewed as of a harassing nature.

He said that McDonald had never come to the attention of the court before and there were a number of positives in the pre-sentence report.

District Judge, Mr Paul Copeland, said the court took a serious view of harassment of an individual.

Putting into place a restraining order involving all the victims he warned McDonald that if he gave these people any further trouble in future he was at a risk of going to prison.