A jilted man who bombarded his girlfriend with more than 140 texts and social media messages in less than ten days after she ended their short relationship has been ordered to stay away from her for two years.
Robbie Johnston must not contact the woman by any means under the terms of the 24-month non-harassment order imposed at Forfar Sheriff Court as part of a sentencing package which also included 120 hours of unpaid work.
He will also be confined to his home between 9pm and 6am under a three-month tagging order for an offence which his lawyer said happened because the 29-year-old “wouldn’t take no for an answer”.
Johnston, of Victoria Street, Alyth pled guilty to engaging in a course of conduct which caused the woman fear and alarm between September 15 and 24 last year by sending her a grossly excessive number of texts and messages.
Depute fiscal Matthew Kerr said the pair had met on a night out in August and swapped telephone numbers, but after exchanging messages the woman went to Johnston’s home on September 15 and told him it was over.
The barrage of messages from the accused began immediately, saying he loved her and missed her.
“She did not respond and a short time later she started receiving repeated text messages,” the fiscal added.
The woman unfriended Johnston on Facebook and blocked him on Snapchat, but continued to receive messages of a similar nature.
“On occasion she did text him back, telling him not to contact her, but he did not take the hint,” added Mr Kerr.
Eventually, concerned that the accused was not heeding her pleas to leave her along, the woman contacted police.
In total, 141 text, Facebook Messenger, Snapchat and Whatsapp messages were sent by Johnston, who, when spoken to by police, said: “I still don’t understand it at all.”
Defence solicitor Ian Myles said: “He wouldn’t take no for an answer.
“The complainer indicates that although the messages were relentless, they were not threatening in any way.
“He has now got the message plain and simple and he is appearing in a court for it.”
Sheriff Gregor Murray told Johnstone: “The most important thing to be said in your favour is that you didn’t threaten the lady.
“This is your second conviction, it’s a step up and it is important you get the message you can’t behave like that,” he said.
