A man who admitted following his ex-girlfriend around Angus and bombarding her with messages has been placed under supervision.
Kevin Findlater previously admitted engaging in a course of abusive behaviour towards his girlfriend of two years.
He also admitted swerving his car in front of the woman and her friends after a messy break-up but told social workers it was not part of the course of conduct.
He appeared at Dundee Sheriff Court to be sentenced and his counsel asked Sheriff Paul Brown for an absolute discharge.
This was rejected by the sheriff, who placed Findlater, of Kirkton of Auchterhouse, under supervision.
Lockdown meltdown
Findlater’s former partner said his behaviour had changed drastically around the time of the first lockdown.
He objected to her attending social occasions with her friends and mother.
Between March and June of 2020, the 22-year-old’s behaviour spiralled downward and he began following her, culminating in a pair of terrifying encounters in their cars.
Fiscal depute Matthew Kerr previously told Perth Sheriff Court the woman felt pressured to pull out of occasions such as a gin-tasting session at a distillery, which she had booked for her mother’s birthday.
He said the woman felt Findlater objected to any occasion when she drank alcohol, including going to the pub with friends.
In May 2020, Findlater arrived at the car park of Westmuir reserve in Kirriemuir and began following her.
On another occasion that month, she was walking her dog in Newtyle park and heard Findlater’s car revving and she hid in bushes.
On other occasions, he sent messages to the woman, repeatedly threatening to kill himself and to her friend, warning him to leave her alone.
In June, as she was travelling along the B954 road in a car with friends, with another car full of friends behind her, Findlater approached from the opposite direction.
Near to the village’s primary school, Findlater drove at speed towards the two vehicles, crossing the centre of the road.
Both vehicles had to take evasive action.
Admission
Findlater previously admitted breaching the Domestic Abuse Scotland Act 2018, and to driving dangerously.
His counsel, Jonathan Crowe, explained engineering graduate Findlater had put applying for jobs on hold until proceedings were finished.
He explained his client had worked as a delivery driver for an agricultural machinery company until being disqualified at his last hearing.
Findlater now cycles to work, as well as to care for an elderly relative.
Mr Crowe asked for an absolute discharge in relation to the domestic charge.
He said: “He found it difficult to comprehend and manage.
“Mr Findlater was a man who was in love and had his heart broken for the first time in his life.
“There’s not a day gone by where he’s not reflected on the way he acted.
“He is deeply embarrassed.
“On one occasion, there was an incident where Mr Findlater was driving.
“He came around the corner too fast.
“There’s no suggestion that this is in any way assault, to cross the other side of the road and strike the car.
“Parents became involved, police were contacted, statements were noted.
“These matters fall at the lower end of the scale of the Domestic Abuse Scotland Act.
“I understand that The Crown accept this falls at the very lowest end of the scale.
“There was no physical violence. There was no sexual violence.
“He has had no contact with the complainer since.”
Sentencing
Sheriff Brown made a one year supervision order and disqualified Findlater from driving for a year, fining him £420.
He was not handed a non-harassment order.
The sheriff said: “Offences such as these are serious.
“It must have been an alarming and unpleasant experience.
“It is not therefore appropriate for me to grant an absolute discharge.”
