Former police officer is jailed for six months

COURT: St Andrews man, 44, admitted causing his former partner fear and alarm

A former police officer is behind bars after bombarding his former partner with threatening messages.

Nicholas Catignani, 44, who left the force disgraced after being caught with drugs several years ago, was jailed at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court.

He had sent the woman a barrage of emails and left voice messages on her phone, one of them saying one of her friends was “a dead man in my language”.

The couple had split up after Catignani, of Hamilton Avenue, St Andrews, relapsed into alcohol addiction and began drinking heavily.

Following a number of text messages from Catignani, the woman blocked him from contacting her by phone and on social media.

However, Catignani repeatedly sent her threatening emails. At one point he threatened if property was not returned to him he would be “coming through with a couple of boys”.

Catignani admitted conduct causing his former partner fear and alarm at a property in Kirkcaldy, and elsewhere, between July 8 and August 19.

His solicitor said he accepted the relationship was over and suggested that sentence be deferred on Catignani, who he said had a long running alcohol problem.

Sheriff Grant Mcculloch said Catignani had four previous convictions involving domestic aggravation.

He said: “That opportunity has come and gone. In the circumstances I am left with no other option.”

Sheriff Mcculloch sentenced Catignani to six months in prison.

Nicholas Catignani.