A father-of-one who sent distressing messages containing only emojis of coffins to his partner has been told he needs to “go on apologising” for what he did.
George Petrie sent a message containing 24 sinister emojis to his partner during a brief split earlier this month.
He also left a voicemail stating “I am coming to get you” and sent one further coffin image in a separate message.
The 40-year-old, of Lhanbryde, sent the disturbing images to his partner of six years at around 8pm on October 10.
The images of the coffin left her scared enough to report him to the police.
Fiscal depute Susan Love told Elgin Sheriff Court that the chilling voicemail threat had greeted his partner earlier that morning.
‘Sent 24 emojis of a coffin’
“Messages back and forward had been friendly after that throughout the day,” she said.
“However at around 8pm he sent a message containing 24 emojis of a coffin. She said this made her feel fearful because it made her scared of what he might do to her.
“He sent a further message containing an emoji of a coffin.”
The woman called the police to say she was fearful and stated she thought his behaviour was down to alcohol consumption.
Petrie admitted a charge of sending alarming or offensive electronic communications.
Defence agent Matthew O’Neill said Petrie’s brother had died unexpectedly around this time causing him to overconsume alcohol.
‘He had been drinking heavily’
“He had been drinking heavily at this particular time and his partner became frustrated by this, there was a disagreement and the relationship came to an end,” he said.
“Before he was contacted by police he contacted her to apologise for his behaviour.
The relationship is now back on track, however.
Mr O’Neill added: “The relationship between the two has been a positive one for them both.
“Neither of them has had their troubles to seek throughout their lives but things have improved significantly for them both through this relationship.
“This was an unfortunate period of time for my client.”
‘Drinking is never an excuse’
Sheriff Peter Anderson told Petrie: “You can count yourself fortunate that you do seem to have the support of your partner and she had accepted your apology.
“You need to go on apologising because what you did was very insulting and scary.
“Drinking is never an excuse and, in many ways, it makes things worse.”
He said he took into account an “influential letter” from the complainer and her mother.
Petrie, of Robertson Road, Lhanbryde, was ordered to be of good behaviour for four months and sentencing was deferred until then.
