A jilted boyfriend whose bizarre reaction to the break-up of his relationship included sleeping in his car outside the house of his ex and stealing her underwear has received a community payback order.
Sam Wilson mounted a near three-week campaign of fear against the young woman, flitting between conciliatory gestures including taking flowers to her to damaging property and shouting and swearing in the street.
The 24-year-old also assaulted the woman, and was told by a sheriff that his conduct must have been “terrifying” for the victim.
Wilson, of Kellyfield Farm Cottage, Arbroath, appeared for sentence before Sheriff Gregor Murray at Forfar, having previously admitted a charge relating to the period between November 16 and December 5 last year.
He pleaded guilty to engaging in a course of conduct that caused his former partner fear and alarm at various locations including High Street, Market Street and Maisondieu Lane in Brechin, Guthrie Street in Friockheim and on an unclassified road between Brechin and Arbroath.
Wilson repeatedly parked his car outside the woman’s home for several hours at a time and repeatedly slept in it there, searched her flat without permission, stole underwear and took possession of her mobile phone without permission to read through messages on it.
He further admitted smashing the phone against a wall, going to the woman’s address with flowers in an attempt to rekindle the relationship, following her in his car and grabbing her by the arm to her injury as well as blocking a roadway with his car to prevent her from being able to pass.
He also repeatedly demanded that she discuss her text messages with him, shouted and swore at her and parked outside the victim’s mother’s home despite being asked to leave the area.
Wilson also assaulted the woman in Brechin on December 5 by seizing her by the wrists to her injury.
Defence solicitor Billy Rennie said Simpson had no similar convictions.
Sheriff Gregor Murray told the accused: “I accept you spared her the ordeal of giving evidence by pleading guilty at the trial diet and you have no analogous convictions, but nonetheless what you did must have been terrifying.”
The community payback order will include 150 hours of unpaid work, which must be completed within a period of nine months.