A restaurateur was fined for sending unwanted food parcels and a letter soaked in his aftershave to his ex-partner.
Jack Montgomery refused to accept the six-month relationship was over and continued to contact her despite being warned by the police.
The 34-year-old, who is launching a new restaurant in Edinburgh, admitted engaging in an abusive course of conduct between March and April last year on Blackness Avenue, Dundee.
Dundee Sheriff Court was told how the woman ended the relationship in February 2020 and told Montgomery to stop contacting her.
However, on March 26 – the third day of the first lockdown – Montgomery sent the woman an email saying: “There should be a delivery for you at the door.”
Fiscal depute Emma Farmer said: “The complainer discovered the accused had left several brown bags containing food and other household items.
“A handwritten letter was attached to the packaging, which had been sprayed in his aftershave.
“The complainer said there was nothing threatening within the letter but the behaviour placed her in a state of fear or alarm and she contacted the police.”
Officers spoke to Montgomery over the phone and told him not to contact the woman by any means.
Deliberately ignored warning
On June 17, however, Montgomery sent another letter saying that he was “disobeying” the police warning, adding the woman’s decision to contact the force had not helped him “gain closure”.
Montgomery, of Meadow Place, Edinburgh, was arrested and gave “no comment” answers during a police interview.
However, he pled guilty in court to causing the woman fear or alarm during a course of conduct by sending gifts and letters against her wishes.
Solicitor John Boyle said Montgomery’s behaviour was “out of character.”
“It appears he was the most invested in that relationship and took the end of it pretty hard.
“There was some traumatic family circumstances around this time also.
“He accepts with the benefit of hindsight he should not have acted in this way and is at pains to point out his regret in causing her fear and alarm.
“He is looking to set up a restaurant in Edinburgh and has applied for a personal licence.”
Montgomery was fined £340 and made subject to a non-harassment order designed to keep him away from the woman for the next three years.
