‘Heartbroken’ stalker fined

Aman who admitted following his exgirlfriend around Angus and bombarding her with messages has been placed under supervision.

Kevin Findlater previously admitted engaging in a course of abusive behaviour towards his girlfriend of two years.

He also admitted swerving his car in front of the woman and her friends after an acrimonious break-up but told social workers it was not part of the course of conduct.

He appeared at Dundee Sheriff Court to be sentenced and his counsel asked Sheriff Paul Brown for an absolute discharge.

This was rejected by the sheriff, who placed Findlater, of Kirkton of Auchterhouse, under supervision.

Findlater’s former partner said his behaviour had changed drastically around the time of the first lockdown.

He objected to her attending social occasions with her friends and mother.

Between March and June 2020, the 22-year-old’s behaviour spiralled downward and he began following her, culminating in a pair of terrifying encounters in their cars.

Depute fiscal Matthew Kerr previously told Perth Sheriff Court that the woman felt pressured to pull out of occasions such as a gin-tasting session at a distillery, which she had booked for her mother’s birthday.

He said she felt Findlater objected to any occasion when she drank alcohol, including going to the pub with friends.

In May 2020, Findlater arrived at the Westmuir reserve car park in Kirriemuir and began following her.

On another occasion that month, the woman was walking her dog in Newtyle Park when she heard Findlater’s car revving and hid in the bushes.

On other occasions, he sent messages to the woman, repeatedly threatening to kill himself and to her friend, warning him to leave her alone.

In June, as she was travelling along the B954 road in a car with friends, with another car full of friends behind her, Findlater approached from the opposite direction.

Near the village’s primary school, Findlater drove at speed towards the two vehicles, crossing the centre of the road. Both had to take evasive action.

Findlater previously admitted breaching the Domestic Abuse Scotland Act 2018, and driving dangerously.

The engineering graduate’s counsel, Jonathan Crowe, said he had put applying for jobs on hold until proceedings were finished.

He said his client had worked as a delivery driver until being disqualified at his last hearing.

Findlater now cycles to work, as well as to care for an elderly relative.

“Mr Findlater was a man who was in love and had his heartbroken for the first time in his life,” Mr Crowe added.

“He is deeply embarrassed.

“There was no physical violence. There was no sexual violence.

“He has had no contact with the complainer since.”

Sheriff Brown made a one-year supervision order and disqualified Findlater from driving for a year, fining him £420.

The sheriff said: “Offences such as these are serious. It must have been an alarming and unpleasant experience.”

LOVE SPLIT: Graduate Kevin Findlater followed his former girlfriend around Angus.