A DISPUTE over contact between an estranged couple was debated at Dundee Sheriff Court yesterday.

An interim interdict against Mark Harris, of Middleton by Dundee, preventing him from contacting former partner Nancy Renwick was lifted by Sheriff Alistair Duff.

Mr Harris’s counsel John Mundy said his client would agree to give an undertaking not to attempt to get in touch with her by any means other than through legal representatives.

The interim interdict was granted last week, and the case continued until yesterday for a hearing on whether it should be made permanent.

At the start of the case, Ms Renwick’s solicitor Billy Boyle said he would accept Mr Harris giving an undertaking.

However, he later told the sheriff he had discovered Mr Harris had sent his client several text messages that day, and argued this behaviour showed an interdict was necessary.

Mr Mundy argued that while Ms Renwick may have been distressed by the messages, their contents were innocuous and had been sent before Mr Harris had instructed him to offer the undertaking.

He said it would be draconian to impose an interdict carrying a threat of imprisonment if breached in any way, and that an undertaking would be sufficient.

Sheriff Duff ordered Mr Harris to give an undertaking not to contact Ms Renwick, and in particular not to write to her, text her, phone her or approach her in any way.

He recalled the interim interdict, and added he was sure that, in the event of any breach of the undertaking, Mr Boyle would not be long in bringing it to the attention of the court.