A 30-YEAR-OLD man has been found guilty of breaching a restraining order by asking his victim for a light.

An arrest warrant has been issued after Sean Thomas Calland failed to turn up for trial at Furness Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Prosecutor Mr Peter Kelly asked that the case against the defendant be heard in his absence and it was agreed.

He explained how Calland had been placed under a restraining order by Preston Crown Court on July 22 last year and prevented from contacting Paula Mulholland.

He said: "On May 21, police were called to the Furness Railway public house where it was reported a group of Scousers were causing a problem in the Abbey Road pub, Barrow."

PC Paul Grierson was one of the officers on the scene. He said: "We had been told that some males were kicking off. When we arrived we spoke to two males. One identified himself as Sean Calland and the other said he was 'The Fox.'

"He explained that there had been an issue over a room they booked. They were not being allowed access so wanted a refund. The room had been booked by Tammy Brill-Edwards and she came outside with another female, Paula Mulholland. The defendant asked her for a light and she gave him one.

"The money was refunded from the room and all four left walking down Abbey Road towards Dalkieth Street."

Two further officers at the scene that night, PC Dawn Winter and PC Mike Kirkham, gave similar versions of the events that night.

All three said it wasn't until later they realised that Calland was under a restraining order and he was charged with the offence.

Ms Laura Gibson, defending, said her client had been approached by the two women. She added that there was no concrete proof that one of the woman had been Ms Mulholland as she had not been spoken to by officers or made a complaint.

Calland, of Cawthorne Avenue, Liverpool, was found guilty of harassment and magistrates issued a warrant for his arrest.

He will then be brought before the court and sentenced.