A BULGARIAN appeared at Chester magistrates accused of harassing the late Princess Diana’s former butler Paul Burrell.

Slav Mitev, 50, of Station Road, Wood Green, London, is alleged to have made a series of malicious phone calls to Mr Burrell’s florists in High Street, Farndon, causing a fear of violence.

Court papers, outlining the indictment, claim that during the phone calls the defendant made threats that he would place an ‘incendiary device’ in the shop and that he was holding Mr Burrell's wife ‘against her will’.

The calls were said to have been made between June 14 and June 16 this year.

The case was committed to Chester Crown Court where Mitev will appear on October 31.

Mitev was granted bail with conditions that he does not contact Mr Burrell or his family and employees and he does not enter Cheshire other than on the dates provided to him by the court.

Mitev, who wore a suit and brown jacket and carried a Morrisons carrier bag, spoke only to confirm his name, age and address and that he understood his bail conditions.

Mr Burrell has not spoken about the case.

He recently commentated on the Royal Wedding for US TV network Fox News telling The Chronicle he was ‘absolutely delighted’ for William and Kate.

Over the past couple of years he has been based in Florida where he marketed his own-label wine and furniture to the American public.

But in recent months he has spent more time in England living a relatively quiet life in the flat above his florists where he can often be found behind the counter.

He jets back and forth to Florida to see his wife Maria and their sons Alex, 27, and Nick, 24, who love the American way of life.