‘Lovesick’ man sent offensive messages to ex-partner

A “lovesick” Brechin man has been sentenced to a period of unpaid work after sending a string of offensive text messages to his ex-girlfriend.

In one, 22-year-old Scott Taylor told the young woman: “I just can’t live anymore and thanks for killing me,” before going on to threaten to expose his relationship with the girl to her disapproving parents.

He later sent his ex an offensive photograph and became involved in an angry text exchange with one of her friends.

When police were called, he told them: “It was me being silly. I was lovesick.”

Taylor, of Montrose Street, Brechin, admitted sending messages of a grossly offensive, indecent or menacing character over a period of days in September.

The court previously heard the accused’s girlfriend had been from the Mearns area but moved to Edinburgh to study and the relationship had gone on for nine months.

In mid-September, the accused contacted her by Facebook messenger and the conversation began amicably but the messages then became more threatening.

Sheriff Gregor Murray sentenced Taylor to carry out 70 hours of work within six months.