Harrassed his former foster parent

He was Stewart Colin Alexander Agnew, no fixed abode, and he admitted that on August 6 this year he pursued a course of conduct which amount to harassment.

Agnew was also given a concurrent three month custodial sentence for possession of a class B drug, cannabis, on August 11.

The court heard that on August 10 the injured party contacted the police to say he was being harassed by the defendant who was demanding money. Agnew had called at his home address and place of work and there were text messages sent.

He was located in Flush Place and while in Lurgan police station he was under constant observation because of his strange behaviour. In the toilet he was trying to conceal something and police found a small block of cannabis on the floor. When interviewed Agnew admitted contact with the injured party and that the tone of his texts was unacceptable.

At some stage the victim had fostered the defendant for a period of time and the demands made by Agnew were over rent he had paid to the injured party and which he believed was owed to him.

A restraining order was granted and will run for two years.

A barrister representing Agnew said the harassment was at the lower end of the scale. He explained there was an argument about £40 and as the defendant was homeless at the time this was a lot of money to him.

The lawyer added that Agnew’s relationship with his mother had broken down and he had been living a transient lifestyle.