Warrant issued in Mayo 'elicit phone messages' case

A bench warrant has been issued for a Mayo resident who failed to appear for sentence in the case in which he harassed a single mother by sending her sexually explicit phone and text messages.

John Creighton (aged 23), of Cordaragh Drive, Kiltimagh who has served a two year sentence for similar offending was due to appear at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court where he has pleaded guilty to harassment of Ms Noleen Lawlor between September 1, 2003 and February 26, 2004.

Defence counsel, Ms Caroline Biggs BL, told Judge Katherine Delahunt that Creighton telephoned his solicitor to say he couldn't travel from Mayo due to the snow that fell overnight.

Judge Delahunt replied that she was not accepting Creighton's excuse and was issuing a bench warrant to have him brought before her. "The last line of the probation report causes me some concern," she added.