Female, 44, snapped when she saw her love rival in cafe

A Blairgowrie woman snapped after spotting a love rival in a local cafe and barged into her, almost knocking her to the ground.

Forty-nine-year-old Carina Bruce then confronted the other woman after discovering she was also involved in a relationship with her partner.

The accused “scowled” at the other female, upsetting her so much that she was “shaking” and had to go outside for a cigarette.

But Bruce followed her and sat on the same bench, staring at her and making aggressive facial expressions.

In a further incident just weeks later, the accused repeatedly telephoned her, in defiance of a bail order banning her from having any contact.

Perth Sheriff Court was told that the phone calls, several of which were ‘silent,’ took place less than a week after Bruce had been fined £450 and ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work for earlier incidents involving the same woman.

Details of the love triangle emerged after Bruce admitted breaching a March 11 bail order by repeatedly contacting the woman between April 27 and May 1.

Bruce also flouted an earlier December 15, 2015, bail order by entering the Cateran Cafe in Blairgowrie High Street on March 9 this year and repeatedly approaching the other love in her partner’s life.

Depute fiscal Lisa Marshall said that the ‘other woman’ and her sister had gone to the cafe and sat with their backs to the accused.

But as she returned from the toilet, Bruce barged into her, almost knocking her over.

Bruce was also seen walking

Defence solicitor

went to the cafe but was still in a relationship with the same man.

He added: “She has given him another chance and has been assured the other relationship is finished, although she did have that assurance before.”

Bruce was ordered to carry out a further 100 hours of unpaid work for making the telephone calls following a court appearance in May.

She was also restricted to her home from 7pm-7am, seven days a week, for three months.

Sentence was deferred on the cafe incident until this month and an updated background report was ordered.

Mr Baxter said his client hadn’t “come to the attention of the authorities” and there had been no subsequent incidents with the other woman.

“There does appear to have been a sea change in her attitude.

Sheriff William Wood deferred sentence further until February 15.

But he warned her: “Clearly, if there are any further problems and any difficulties involving the same people, custody would be an option.

“You have to understand the precarious situation you are in.”