A father of 16 children who stalked the sister of a former girlfriend after becoming obsessed with her, was placed under a non-harassment order yesterday.
Donald Mackenzie was also ordered to carry out 240 hours unpaid work instead of going to jail after it was said that his children were all grown up and he doesn’t have to look after them.
Mackenzie, 59, of 49 Wrightfield Park, Conon Bridge, admitted repeatedly turning up at Lynda Tolmie’s home 500 yards away in Bank Street, Conon Bridge, and demanding that she read texts and letters between himself and her sister Jennifer between April 2014 and September 15.
Mackenzie divorced his wife Desrie several years ago after they had nine sons and seven daughters together.
When he left his wife, Mackenzie moved to 49 Wrightfield Park, Maryburgh, a few miles away and struck up a relationship with one of his neighbour’s daughters, Jennifer Tolmie.
Sister Lynda disapproved of the pairing because of Mackenzie’s history of public disorder and domestic abuse.
The court heard that Jennifer moved to Canada, bringing the union to an end.
Despite warnings by police to stay away, Mackenzie continued to pester Lynda Tolmie and was eventually arrested after he got extremely irate when she refused to communicate with him.
Sheriff Neilson was told Mackenzie would often drive past Ms Tolmie’s house, her work or attend at her house uninvited and unexpected. On one occasion, he was outside a police station while Ms Tolmie was inside reporting her concerns to officers.
On two occasions, he also made mention of a shotgun.
The court was told by defence lawyer Neil Wilson that the former stonemason had given up his job to look after his children.
“The youngest child is now 18 and he is willing and able to do community work as an alternative to a custodial sentence.
“The flashpoint of his behaviour was his relationship with the sister. He plainly had an obsession with her. That is no longer the case and this is a wake-up call to him that what he did was wrong.
“Sometimes people don’t realise the significance of their actions.”
Mackenzie also pleaded guilty to causing fear and alarm to another woman and threatening to damage her car on February 19, 2014.
The two-year non-harassment order also applies to this woman.