A MAN from Wrexham sent flirtatious text messages to a girl aged 16.

Allan Jenkins, 47, had used the mobile phone of a family member who had lost her phone to send the text messages.

Jenkins, of Maelor Terrace, Brynteg, admitted a charge under the Telecommunications Act of sending malicious calls which caused annoyance and anxiety.

He was fined £90 with £165 costs at Flintshire Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

The court heard the girl received anonymous text messages saying things like “hia sexy”, “what are you up to?” and “I am horny” with kisses on them.

She could not understand where they came from and telephoned the number to try to challenge the sender but when someone answered the calls they were then cut off.

The Mold court was told Jenkins was caught out when he visited a relative and left the phone there.

When it rang the relation answered the call. It was then that it came to light what had been going on.

The relative agreed to meet the victim and her mother at Wrexham police station and the matter was reported.

Prosecutor Christine O’Kane said the victim received eight texts from Jenkins. It was accepted not all of them were of a sexual nature.

Arrested and questioned, Jenkins denied all knowledge of the text messages. He alleged members of his family were trying to get him into trouble.

But he had now entered a guilty plea on a basis that he did not know who the recipient was.

However Miss O’Kane said the victim had been shocked to find out who had sent the text messages because Jenkins was related to a former boyfriend.

Ceri Evans, defending, said her client was getting divorced and was now living alone.

He came across a phone, he accepted he started sending text messages and believed it was to an adult female. He did not know who the complainant was or her age.

The messages could be described as flirtatious but they were quite mild.

“He realises his stupidity,” said Miss Evans who added the upset caused to his family and his estranged wife had been more than enough punishment for him.