Man in court for pestering ex

May 25 2011 by Court Reporter, Stirling Observer Wednesday

A SPURNED 28-year-old man has appeared in court after being arrested for pestering his ex-partner.

Stirling Sheriff Court heard last Friday how David Parish was told by the woman that their relationship of 15 months was over, just before Christmas last year.

But Parish was later spotted hanging around outside the woman’s flat in Springfield Terrace, Dunblane, on February 28 this year.

Even after being warned by police about this behaviour, he persisted and was seen for a second time outside the flat on March 4.

On each occasion, his former partner told police that she didn’t want Parish charged, just told to leave her alone.

Things took a worrying turn just a week later, however, when his former partner called The Peak sports centre in Stirling.

Fiscal depute Brent Bissett said: “On March 11 the complainer phoned the gym which she attends to cancel some classes.

“On speaking with the receptionist she was advised that the accused had been contacting the gym asking what classes she was booked to attend.

“As a result she cancelled all pre-booked classes.

“This matter was reported to police.”

His ex also made police aware of e-mails and texts that had been sent to her – one asking to remain friends and even apologising for getting in touch.

Parish was subsequently arrested by police as he attended a gym class himself.

He pleaded guilty to causing his former girlfriend fear and alarm between February 28 and March 14 of this year.

His solicitor Rhona Lynch said that Parish’s conduct took place over a two-week spell following the breakdown of his relationship with the woman.

Ms Lynch added that, after being told that the relationship was completely over, Parish found this “particularly difficult to take”.

After moving to a flat in Glasgow, Parish was later told by a mutual friend that the complainer had met someone else and that he should “move on”.

The solicitor added: “He said that he found this heartbreaking.”

Ms Lynch said that Parish had now accepted that the relationship was over and added: “At no stage during this was there any threatening, abusive or sinister behaviour. At no stage was this motivated by malice.

“It was a case of unrequited love not being dealt with in the appropriate way.”

She added that conviction in this case would also have “catastrophic consequences” for Parish’s future career as a mountain bike instructor.

Ms Lynch then asked that sentence be deferred without proceeding to conviction at this stage to enable Parish to prove that the matter was “a one off”.

Sheriff Wyllie Robertson said that he would not follow that course of action at this time and instead adjourned the case for a social work report until June 15