An infatuated business developer who moved his life from France to be close to his ex in Aberdeenshire has been convicted of stalking.
Nicholas White bombarded driving instructor Tracy Van Someran with calls, texts and e-mails for more than three months after she abruptly ended their relationship and started seeing another man.
Hurt and angry by the way their relationship had finished, White moved his life from Paris to Alford knowing she lived only a few miles away.
And despite being told never to contact her again, White persisted in trying to get her attention and even resorted to following her around in his car and monitoring her internet usage.
The 43-year-old was found guilty of stalking Ms Van Someran after a trial at Aberdeen Sheriff Court, and sentence was deferred for background reports.
Convicting him, Sheriff Graham Buchanan said his behaviour had been sinister and said he was “in no doubt whatsoever” that he wanted Ms Van Someran to know he was watching her.
“The clear view which I have formed about this case is that the accused felt very bitter indeed about the way his relationship with the complainer ended and felt he had been wronged by her, and there is content within the texts and e-mails that showed that he bore a grudge against her for that.
“I have no doubt that at relevant times he still loved the complainer but felt a need to punish her for what he felt was her bad behaviour towards him.”
He added: “I am in no doubt there were sinister aspects to his behaviour including his move to Alford of all places. This is eloquent of the behaviour of the accused to show the complainer that he is watching over her and is plainly, in my view, to cause her fear and alarm.”
During the trial Ms Van Someran told the court she had been “terrified of his behaviour” which she felt had escalated and become threatening.
Speaking after the verdict White, of Stonegables, Alford, continued to protest his innocence.
He said: “I am in shock. It was never, ever my intention to upset her. I did not understand why she felt the way she did. I was only trying to maintain contact with her in order to keep the peace.
“There was absolutely never any animosity. I am deeply shocked that the court feels they way it does and there was never any intention to cause anyone fear or alarm.”