A jealous man who subjected his new Angus girlfriend to a “relentless” bombardment of demanding and abusive text and voicemail messages has been ordered to pay her £750 compensation.
Over a fortnight last year, offshore worker Richard Harris repeatedly questioned the woman’s fidelity to him, including one overnight deluge of 300 texts, many of them offensive.
Forfar Sheriff Court was told Harris, 38, from Aberdeen, had initially met the Carnoustie woman through an online dating site before they began exchanging messages and phone calls.
They met for the first time at the beginning of August and everything appeared fine for the next few weekends.
Depute fiscal Jill Drummond told the court that in September the woman was out in Broughty Ferry with friends and Harris was in Liverpool when he contacted her and accused her of being on a date.
She went to bed and put her phone on silent but woke to discover more than 300 texts.
The fiscal said Harris apologised and the woman suggested he should seek counselling, which he said he would do.
They met again at the end of October and when the woman went upstairs to get ready, she took her phone to listen to music on it.
“He became suspicious, asked to check her phone and searched through it,” added the fiscal.
The woman eventually told the accused that she felt their relationship was going round in circles because of his jealousy and he left but returned later and was allowed back into the victim’s home.
She became concerned and contacted a friend but Harris left and police were called.
The fiscal said that as officers were taking details from the victim, she received a number of “relentless” text messages, some stating that he would “not be happy” if the woman contacted police.
Harris, of Chattan Place, Aberdeen, admitted repeatedly sending offensive text and voicemail messages to the woman between October 25 and November 7 last year.
Defence solicitor Bob Bruce said: “He clearly had feelings for her and, regrettably, it all boiled over. Otherwise, he is a man who has led a life without blemish.”
Sheriff Gregor Murray told Harris his conduct had been “shocking” and would have caused “emotional upset” to the victim.