A 43-year-old Port Erin woman has been fined £250 for breaching a restraining order.

Nicola Jane Clarkson, of Qualtrough’s Lane, admitted the offence and was also ordered by magistrates to pay £50 prosecution costs.

Prosecuting advocate Barry Swain told the court that Clarkson had previously been given the restraining order forbidding her from having any contact with a man.

But on September 29 last year the man was in The Riddler under The Nest bar in Port Erin.

He was given permission to be there during closed hours and would play on the pinball machine.

The man said that he looked out of the window and saw Clarkson standing outside smiling and waving at him.

He said that he made a gesture at her telling her to go away and she left.

Mr Swain said that the incident may have seemed innocuous but it was following the imposition of the restraining order and was reported to police.

The prosecutor said that Clarkson had met the man once but had developed an infatuation and tried to contact him.

Defence advocate Stephen Wood agreed that the offence was innocuous and said: ’It is at the lower end of possible breaches of court orders but court orders need to be followed.

’It was a chance encounter. The whole experience has been a lesson.

’Ms Clarkson finds herself in court for smiling and waving at someone through a window.

’She left the scene shortly after when gestures were made.’

Magistrates chair David Christian told Clarkson: ’We accept it was a chance encounter but you should have walked on by.’

Clarkson agreed to pay the fine and costs within seven days.