Police officer given absolute discharge for harassing former girlfriend

A Tayside police officer has been given an absolute discharge after being found guilty of harassing his ex-girlfriend and former colleague.

PC Dale Mudie was convicted at Forfar Sheriff Court of harassing fellow constable Amy Hutchison when their “intense” relationship which blossomed after the pair attended police college came to an end.

The 24-year-old from Carnoustie was found guilty after a three-day trial, and was sentenced today.

The trial was largely held in private before Sheriff Gregor Murray.

Today the sheriff granted an absolute discharge – meaning no conviction will be on his record.

Initial public evidence was given by Ms Hutchison, now a PC in Durham, who said she felt “threatened” by a barrage of text messages from Mudie when their five-month relationship ended in 2011.

Things had come to a head at a wedding reception in Blairgowrie, where Ms Hutchison, 26, said she was leaving the relationship.

Ms Hutchison previously indicated she had started seeing Mudie in April 2011, saying: “It was initially quite good. I would describe it as deteriorating quite rapidly.”