A YOUNG woman from the Wigton area was left 'fearful and anxious' after a man she spoke to in a pub began showering her with gifts.

Among the unwanted presents sent to the woman by 34-year-old Carlisle man Liam Patrick were a Christmas jumper and Valentine’s Day roses, the city’s Rickergate court was told.

He also paid to name a star after her.

But, after legal discussions between the defence and prosecution lawyers, the case was dropped and the defendant, of Spencer Street, was declared not guilty. Magistrates declined to make a restraining order.

Had they approved such an order, it would have banned Mr Patrick from the pub where he first met the woman and from her home. 

The defendant had faced a three-hour trial on a single charge of harassment, between the dates of December 1 last year and March 9 this year. The charge stated that he sent her roses on February 14 at her workplace.

He also her friend, asking her to pass his birthday wishes. He named the star after her - paying for a certificate to prove it - on Christmas Day.

The court heard that a key part of the charge involved proving that the accused person must 'know', or be capable of knowing, that his behaviour caused distress and amounted to harassment.

There was no dispute that Mr Patrick's behaviour did distress the woman, magistrates were told. Prosecutor George Shelley said the prosecution would offer no evidence in the case but he pointed out that the court still had the power to impose a restraining order if magistrates considered this necessary and proportionate.

In this case, he said, both the proseucution and defence  - represented by lawyer John Smith - supported an order, agreeing that it would reassure the woman involved.

To drive home that point, Mr Shelley read a statement from the woman.

“Since the incident was reported to the police, I have suffered anxiety and stress,” she said. She felt humiliated when people started talking about what happened, she said; and after Mr Patrick tuned up uninvited at her home, she installed security cameras and kit costing several hundred pounds.

Nor did she enjoy going out any longer after what had happened, she said.

Mr Smith told the court the defendant first met the woman when they fell into conversation at a Wigton area pub. Mr Patrick found it difficult to get on with people and was socially uncomfortable, said Mr Smith.

On Christmas Day, he sent her a message confirming he had paid to have a star named after her, saying he had a certificate to prove it. Mr Patrick then received a message from the woman, in which she said she would always be his friend.

“But he didn’t realise what she was saying, and that she didn’t want him to carry on contacting her,” said Mr Smith.

So, the defendant had kept on going to the pub involved and sent her flowers. It was only later that he realised she not want the contact.

Mr Smith added: “He’s the kind of person you have to tell in words of one syllable: please don’t contact me; now that has happened and there's been no further contact.” Mr Smith agreed that a restraining order would reassure the woman.

He added that Mr Patrick had no intention of contacting the woman again.

Magistrates said it was clear Mr Patrick understood his attention was not wanted by the woman and that he had accepted this.  “We are not satisfied that a restraining order is necessary,” added the presiding magistrate.