Intimidating love rival sentenced to unpaid work

A Blairgowrie woman snapped after spotting a love rival in a local cafe and sat next to her, staring in an aggressive manner in a bid to intimidate her, Perth Sheriff Court was told.

The incident, which followed an earlier confrontation with the “other woman,” led to a further community payback order (CPO) being imposed.

Forty-nine-year-old Carina Bruce, of Ferguson Park, will have to complete 150 hours of unpaid work within the next six months after she flouted a December 15, 2015, bail order from the Perth court.

She had been ordered not to approach or contact the other woman involved in the love triangle.

But she sat beside her in the Cateran Cafe on March 9 last year and repeatedly approached her.

In a previous incident, which resulted in an earlier community payback order being imposed, Bruce had confronted the other woman after discovering she was 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.

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

The court was told that several of the phone calls were “silent”. Around 10 different phone calls were made over a four-day period - but the love rival recognised the accused’s number and contacted the police.

Solicitor Jamie Baxter said his client had been involved in a relationship with a “third party” for around 18 months. He said: “It came to light, however, that he was also involved simultaneously - with another woman. That’s what started the bad feeling that led to a number of unsavoury incidents, including remarks and text messages between them.”

Mr Baxter said Bruce no longer 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.”

Mr Baxter told the court: “The complainer no longer lives in the town.” There had been no further incidents with the other woman since September 2016.

Despite noting that the accused’s “nemesis” had since moved away, Sheriff Wood said the court had to mark its displeasure at Bruce’s actions by imposing another CPO.

Unsavoury incidents, including remarks and text messages