A police officer faces being sacked after subjecting his colleague to a nine-month long campaign of harassment after she ended their relationship.
Cyber-crime specialist Andrew Caulfield, 47, admitted carrying out a sustained course of domestic abuse against the police constable.
He also admitted defying a court order to stay away from her after he was initially arrested and appeared in the dock at Dundee Sheriff Court.
Caulfield, who has been a Dundee-based PC for many years, appeared at the court again last week and changed his plea to guilty to both charges.
He admitted engaging in a course of abusive behaviour towards the 35-year-old woman, while she was his partner or ex-partner, between July 12 2020 and April 7 2021.
Caulfield, from Dundee, ignored his former girlfriend’s pleas to leave her alone when she told him their relationship was at an end.
He admitted “acting in a coercive and controlling manner” and sentence was deferred for social work reports and a restriction of liberty order assessment.
Refused to accept end of relationship
The disgraced officer had originally faced a charge of abusing the woman for two years.
After discussions with the Crown, his guilty plea to a reduced charge covering a shorter period of time was accepted before his scheduled trial date.
Caulfield admitted he had refused to accept the relationship was at an end, repeatedly phoning, texting and emailing, despite his victim telling him she wanted no contact..
He admitted repeatedly turning up at her home uninvited and placing cards and letters through her letterbox.
He admitted warning a friend to stop contacting her and accepted he had an unwanted card delivered to her home in the city.
Caulfield also pled guilty to a second charge of breaching a bail order imposed at Dundee Sheriff Court on July 14 2020.
He admitted ignoring the court order for more than two months by failing to comply with a condition to stay away from the woman between August 29 and November 12 2020.
The court was told he had repeatedly contacted his colleague by phone and instant message and had met her on a number of occasions.
Continued police probe
Incidents relating to six other locations in Dundee and Meigle, Perthshire, were removed from the charge.
It was originally alleged the abuse began on June 1 2019.
The Crown has asked for a non-harassment order to be imposed to prevent Caulfield having any contact with his former partner.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We are aware of the outcome of the case and a report will be made to the Assistant Chief Constable for Professionalism and Assurance for consideration of conduct proceedings
“Police Scotland fully investigates all reports of violence against women and girls irrespective of who the perpetrator is.
“We are committed to continuing to work with our partners and support the right of women and girls to feel safe.
“We continue to review and refresh our strategy to tackle violence against women and girls in Scotland.”
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