A man created fake social media profiles using his ex-girlfriend’s photo and then used them to contact her despite being repeatedly blocked.
Jayden MacClennan also kept phoning the woman and had friends make enquiries about her and didn’t relent – even when he was warned to stop by police.
MacLennan, 20, appeared for sentencing at Inverness Sheriff Court having previously admitted a single charge of engaging in a course of behaviour which was abusive of a partner or ex-partner.
Fiscal depute Karen Poke said that the charge related to behaviour between September and December of 2020.
She said: “The complainer first contacted police on September 21 2020 regarding an alarming number of calls and messages via social media from multiple profiles she believed to have been made by the accused.
“The accused was continuing to make new social media accounts each time the complainer blocked him.
On one occasion she awoke to 58 missed calls from a private number she believed to be the accused.”
Following a second report from the woman at the beginning of November MacLennan received a warning from the police, but continued to attempt to contact the woman.
“On November 29 she intimated to the police there had been an increase in the volume and frequency and variation of accounts being created,” Ms Poke said.
Ex’s photo used on social media
She added: “A picture of the complainer was being used as the profile picture on the accounts.”
In messages to the woman, MacLennan made statements including: “I just can’t take any more”, “Something needs to be done” and “I wasn’t like this before you but there is only so many times you can be blocked.”
When interviewed by the police MacLennan cooperated fully and made admissions that he had contacted the complainer “about 50 times”.
He admitted he knew he had been blocked but continued to make contact through social media and enquired about the complainer through friends on his behalf.
Man could not accept break up
Solicitor Matthew Berlow, for MacLennan, said his client was “really young at the time” having just turned 18.
He said “He found it difficult to accept the break up of his first serious relationship. He understands that his behaviour was unacceptable and would have had an effect on the complainer.”
Sheriff David Sutherland placed MacLennan of Hill Street, Dingwall, on a community payback order with 12 months’ supervision.
Rejecting a suggestion that he might impose a non-harassment order – a move that the Crown said was supported by the complainer – Sheriff Sutherland said: “Given the passage of time I am not going to make any other order just now.”
‘Women should be able to live safely’
Elaine Fetherston, manager of Inverness Women’s Aid, told the Press and Journal that she wants non-harassment orders to be used more often.
She explained: “A lot of women see non-harassment orders as a good outcome from a court case and they know it will protect them, at least in theory.
“Obviously, the perpetrator can be non-compliant with it but there are consequences for him.
“Women should be able to live safely in their own household out in the community and having a non-harassment order is one of the ways that we can achieve that.
“It’s one factor that will make women’s situations safer. That’s the direction we have to move in.”
