Balintore man who ignored court order and bombarded ex with abusive texts put on community payback order
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A BALINTORE man bombarded his former partner with abusive text messages over a three-day period, despite being banned from being in contact with her, a court heard.
Christopher Andrews (27), Abbotshaven, was the subject of a a non-harassment order preventing him from contacting the woman.
But procurator fiscal depute Naomi Duffy-Welsh told Tain Sheriff Court on Monday that Andrews began sending texts to the woman shortly after the order was imposed on January 24.
He wanted her to contact the court in a bid to have the order lifted.
Ms Duffy-Welsh said the messages continued throughout the next two days and became increasingly abusive and irate.
“The accused made comments on his former partner wearing make-up and being in another relationship,” she said.
The abuse was reported to police and officers visited Andrews’ home at 8.30am on January 26 and cautioned and charged him.
Andrews appeared at Monday’s court by video link from Porterfield prison, Inverness, having previously admitted behaving in a threatening manner between January 24-6.
He also pleaded guilty to breaching bail conditions between those dates by entering a property in Lochslin Place.
Defence agent Duncan Henderson said his client realised that there was no excuse for his behaviour and that the breach of the order had been a significant one.
The lawyer pointed out Andrews’ lack of record and that he had also spent time on remand in relation to the charges.
Sheriff Gary Aitken placed Andrews on a community payback order with the requirements that he be under social work supervision for nine months and undertake the Preventing Violence in Relationships programme as well as the Decider Skills Programme - aimed at helping people who struggle to manage their emotions.
Mr Aitken told Andrews: “Having been placed on a non-harassment order, you proceeded within a matter of hours not only to breach the terms of that very proscriptive order but to engage in a course of extremely abusive behaviour to your ex-partner. That is why you have appeared in court.
“Court orders are there to be observed and not to try and bully other people to get them changed.”
A fresh non-harassment order was also imposed with Andrews warned again not to contact the woman.
