A Tayside pensioner is still awaiting sentence over a five-month stalking campaign against a woman more than 40 years his junior.
David Milne, 77, from Muirhead appeared at Forfar Sheriff Court and admitted a five-month campaign which included making sexual comments, sending letters, and staring at the woman outside her home.
The court heard Milne, who was born in 1938, repeatedly waited for the woman to pass, waved at her and attempted to engage in conversation, and made inappropriate and sexually explicit comments to her.
He later delivered letters to her home which contained inappropriate comments, stared at her, and stood outside her house in Edward Place and Inver Terrace.
Milne also admitted breaching bail conditions between March 10 and 30 this year, where he further attempted to wave the woman down at Edward Place and the Coupar Angus road, stared at her and threatened her.
The court previously heard Milne had minimised his offending during an interview with social workers, despite his guilty pleas by letter to the court.
Defence agent Michael Boyd said on Thursday: “I understand there’s been an issue about acceptance of the plea.
“From my reading of the most recent report it does appear there’s been an acknowledgment to a certain extent of the commission of an offence.
“The recommendation is for a period of deferred sentence for six months, perhaps with conditions but I don’t know whether your lordship is minded to deal with it today.”
Sheriff Pino Di Emidio told Milne: “I’m conscious this has been hanging over you for some time.
“We’ve got a psychiatric report about you… but the criminal justice social work report is not fully here.”
Sentence was deferred to December 22.
Billy Boyle, the third solicitor to act for Milne in the matter, previously said: “I am having considerable difficulties with this case.
“I’m put in a very difficult position where I have spent umpteen hours explaining the position (to Milne).
“I would normally withdraw from acting but for Mr Milne’s age and the background of the case.”
Sheriff Gregor Murray told Milne: “You’re a stranger to the court, and you had a situation which I frankly have not come across before.
“You have one of the, if not the, most experienced solicitors in this area saying that he’s not sure what he should do.
“I warned you if you did not accept everything you said you did in this case, you may be remanded while I figure out what can be done with you.
“You very clearly pled guilty by letter through a solicitor and now you are saying ‘no I didn’t do it’.”
Milne, of Edward Place, admitted engaging in a course of conduct which caused a woman fear and alarm between January 1 and June 6 last year.
