`I’ll tell all your secrets’

A man who threatened to divulge information about his ex has avoided jail.

Brian Leslie Hill, of Golfhill in Dunblane, appeared at Stirling Sheriff Court on Wednesday for sentencing.

The 50-year-old had previously admitted engaging in a course of conduct which caused Nicola Kitt fear or alarm on January 15 of this year, by threatening to distribute personal information about her and sending an abusive message to James Dawson.

He also pleaded guilty to breaching his bail conditions between April 17 and 19 by repeatedly contacting Ms Kitt.

The court heard that the pair had been in a relationship for four months, but separated – with the complainer telling the accused she did not want to be with him in October 2016.

Fiscal depute Laura Knox said on January 15, Hill had left a Facebook voice message where he uttered an offensive word to Mr Dawson, and sent an email to Ms Kitt claiming she had stayed at Mr Dawson’s home.

“The message read: ‘I won’t tell the Secret Garden gang’ with several laughing emoticons.”

Mrs Knox added that the message indicated that Hill was going to reveal personal information to the complainer’s workmates at The Secret Garden flower shop, Dunblane.

The court heard that Hill had breached his bail conditions by being in ‘continual contact’ with Ms Kitt between April 17 and 19.

However, defence solicitor Frazer McCready said that the conversation had been two way, with both the accused and the complainer sending text messages.

“He hasn’t spoken to her since then,” Mr McCready said. “It would appear that the accused was getting mixed messages from the complainer, and that it appears is why he is appearing in front of Your Lordship today.”

Sheriff Wyllie Robertson issued Hill with two years of supervision and a requirement to attend the Caledonian Men’s Programme. He was also fined £400 for the bail breach.