Jilted lover used online greetings card service to harass ex-girlfriend, court hears

A jilted lover used an online greetings card service to harass former lover, a court heard.

Alica Renosa, 44, was sent a series of personalised messages over a seven month period after chartered surveyor Andrew Wallace used the company's website to create his own cards in an attempt to win her back.

One card chosen by 50-year old Wallace included text saying the grave of Miss Renosa's father was his "favourite place to visit" and claimed it was installed as a destination on his satellite navigation system.

Miss Renosa, a mother of one who runs a mobile hairdressing business in Stalybidge, Greater Manchester, contacted Moonpig to request that the company stopped Mr Wallace from sending cards to her address.

She also called police who issued with Wallace with a Police Information Notice (PIN) warning about his conduct, however he was then alleged to deliver the cards personally to her home instead.

In a statement Miss Renosa said: "I thought the PINS notice would be a sufficient deterrent for Andrew but he seems to be ignoring it.

"I wish Andrew would stop using my postal address as a means of communication. I feel like he has used the last several months to try to manipulate me into getting back with him.”

She added that her life had been affected and she was “filled with fear and intimidation”.

Tameside Magistrates Court heard the pair met through an online dating site last year. Prosecuting, Danielle Allison, said: "She describes that she told him that she did not want a relationship with him, but he continued to contact her through Facebook. As a result, she blocked him through social media and his phone. She then went to the police.”

Ms Allison told the court that from 29 July 2017, an officer informed her that a PINS notice had been issued against Mr Wallace but that he continued to communicate with her.

"In August she received a card from him from MoonPig.com and then on October 10, he contacted her again using the telephone. During the course of that call, he implored her not to hang up and said that he had issues. She said that she did not want to remain in contact with him,” she said.

It was then claimed that on October 18, another card from MoonPig.com was sent from Mr Wallace to Miss Renosa’s address. She then called MoonPig.com and asked them to prevent him from sending cards to her address.

"On December, he sent her another card saying that her late father's grave is one of his favourite places and marked on his phone's SatNav, and that he was going to visit,” Ms Allison added.

The court heard a parcel was delivered the following day containing a bottle of alcohol and a card from the defendant.

On February 13 Mr Wallace then sent a Valentines card to her home and she reported the incident to the police.

Defence lawyer, Ian Ridgeway, said the relationship ended “by text message” and that Mr Wallace wanted to know why it was ended “and that was when the communication started”.

The court heard how Mr Wallace, who walks with a limp, suffered from a series of strokes in 2010 eight years ago, which has resulted in him having Cerebral Vasculitis. He had previously worked as a chartered surveyor but had to quit his job and is now living off disability benefits.

Wallace of Knutsford, Cheshire, pleading guilty to harassing Miss Renoso between July 2017 to February 2018 and was banned from contacting and her daughter for 18 months under the terms of a restraining order.