Love knows no boundaries and even the dock at Maidstone Crown Court could not come between a couple desperate to share a clinch.

Steven Kelly and his partner Jenny Davies were determined to bid a fond farewell to each other before he was led down to the cells at the end of his hearing.

But their passionate parting ended with Ms Davies being given a stiff warning from Judge Martin Joy – and a ban from sitting in the public gallery at his pending trial.

Kelly, 44, of Mahogany Close, Rotherhithe, south east London, was at court for a case readiness hearing.

It was as he was being led out of the dock that he moved towards Ms Davies, who was sitting in the public gallery.

Despite the repeated warnings and determined physical efforts of a female dock officer to keep the couple apart, the pair leant over the dock railings and managed to grab a kiss in full view of the stunned judge, barristers and court staff.

After Kelly was eventually taken down to the cells, Ms Davies was ordered by Judge Joy into the witness box to explain herself, to which she replied: “I haven’t had a kiss with him for three months so that’s what that was about and I apologise.”

However, as the judge tried to explain to her the seriousness of her actions and that she could be held in contempt of the court, Ms Davies added: “I love him. I only wanted to give him a quick kiss.”

She then continued to interrupt Judge Joy. When he told her she was in danger of “talking herself into trouble”, she nonchalantly replied: “I’m not even bothered.”

Ms Davies, who referred to Kelly as her husband, was asked to give her name to the clerk and then told to leave. But she was determined to have the last word, telling Judge Joy: “Nice to meet you. You have got to look at it from both views Judge.”

Kelly is due to stand trial next month on charges of possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and possession of cannabis with intent to supply.

On Valentine’s Day this year 24-year-old Karla Shaw incurred the wrath of another judge at Maidstone Crown Court when she passionately kissed her boyfriend as they sat in the dock together.

Having been told by Judge Charles Byers that he hoped their embrace had been worth the trouble, the prostitute from Chatham cheekily replied: “You don’t know how worth it that was. Happy Valentine’s."