A court has been told how a 57-year-old Perthshire man stalked his online dating girlfriend with a mobile phone app after their short-lived relationship hit the rocks at a family party.
Billy Daniel used the tracking tool to follow the woman to the car park of an Angus restaurant, then emailed her a picture of her car during a barrage of threats over the breakdown of their fleeting romance.
At Forfar Sheriff Court, the self-employed forester avoided going to prison after admitting a course of conduct which his solicitor said had left the accused “embarrassed and ashamed”.
Daniel, of Knollhead Farm, Kettins admitted that between August 19 and September 4 he caused his ex-partner fear and alarm with the course of conduct, which included a string of text messages, and following her to the Brewer’s Fayre at Ethiebeaton on the outskirts of Dundee.
Depute fiscal Stewart Duncan said the couple had been together for around 18 months after meeting online and were at the 50th birthday party of the woman’s sister on August 18.
The accused had been falling asleep outside in the early hours, but became angry when he came into the kitchen and saw his partner with another man.
“He was aggressive and shouting, other family members tried to calm him down and he was asked to leave,” said the fiscal.
Just after 4am, Daniel sent a text to the woman saying: “You broke my heart. I hope you’re happy you destroyed me.”
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He then sent further texts of a more threatening nature over the next few days, and she replied by telling him the relationship was over.
On August 22 the woman met with the man she had been with at the party to discuss what had happened and Daniel then sent a text to her saying he had been in a silver van behind them.
He texted: “I know who he is and all about him.”
The court heard he followed that up with further texts .
Mr Duncan added: ” She then sent a text telling him to stop and he replied by sending a text and a photograph of her car parked in the car park.”
The woman contacted police and Daniel admitted he had used a friend-finding app to check her location through her mobile phone.
Defence solicitor Michael Boyd said: “He takes full responsibility for his action, which he accepts were wrong and of which he is thoroughly ashamed.
“He also accepts the relationship is over.”
Sheriff Jillian Martin-Brown imposed a 12-month Community Payback Order on Daniel, including conduct and supervision requirements.
The sheriff also granted a Crown application for a non-harassment order, which will be in place for two years to protect the woman from the accused.
