A Fife man who wrote a play about his ex-partner and sent it to her in a bid to “rekindle their relationship through her love of poetry and music” has been found guilty of stalking and ordered to pay her compensation.
Alan Corsie also sent Keren MacPherson a book of poems he had written “dedicated” to her and a “script idea written relating to her” in a package aimed at starting up their relationship, which had ended last year.
But instead Miss MacPherson was left “frightened” and “distressed” after receiving it.
The package also contained a USB stick, a copy of the play he had written about her and a letter.
Corsie then followed that up by repeatedly attempting to communicate with her through another woman in a bid to get a response.
That was despite an earlier incident last December in which it was “made clear” to Corsie that she wanted nothing more to do with him.
Corsie’s lawyer said the construction engineer did not want to pay compensation to his ex because of a dispute over the sale of the couple’s former home – and that handing money to her would “add insult to injury”.
But a sheriff ordered Corsie to hand over £800 to Miss MacPherson for his “persistent” campaign.
Corsie, 54, of Dunshalt, Cupar, denied a charge of stalking on summary complaint at Dundee Sheriff Court.
However, he was found guilty by a sheriff after a trial earlier this month.
On Monday he appeared for sentencing where his solicitor, Douglas Williams, said: “He thought the best way to rekindle this relationship was through her love of poetry and music and that kind of thing.
“There was nothing in what he did in terms of there being anything sinister about that.
“He has taken steps to deal with what may have been obsessive, compulsive behaviour.
“He now appreciates that the relationship is over, and that’s it.
“What he did, in effect, was to send a package and the recipient, knowing who it was from, could have put it in the bin.
“He followed that up with regard to getting an answer.”
Sheriff Lorna Drummond QC ordered Corsie to pay £800 in compensation to Miss MacPherson.
She also imposed a non-harassment order banning Corsie from contacting her for two years.
Sheriff Drummond said: “She said she was frightened when she got the package.
“These offences are offences because fear or alarm was caused to an individual.
“I do think in that situation compensation is an appropriate disposal.
“This involved you engaging in a course of conduct when you knew fine well your advances were not welcome.
“It was persistent and it is an offence for you to behave in that manner.”
