'Bitter' ex sent abusive texts
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A Dornoch man sent his former partner abusive texts calling her a "whore" after she began a new relationship, a court heard.
Gordon David Gibson (41), Davochfin, sent 13 abusive texts in the four months between October 6, 2017, and February 18 the following year.
But the texts were among 267 "pages" of otherwise innocuous messages exchanged during that period between the pair, Tain Sheriff Court heard yesterday.
Procurator fiscal Roderick Urquhart said Gibson's partner had formed a new relationship shortly after the 2017 split and that the offending texts related to accusations of "sexual promiscuity".
Mr Urquhart pointed out that the matter had been reported to police more than a year after the last offensive text had been received. He suggested there was a link between this and an alleged assault on Gisbon by his former partner's new man, who has denied the attack.
Defence agent Neil Wilson said his client had taken the end of the 22-year relationship badly and was on occasions "somewhat bitter". He had sent the texts under the influence of alcohol and while working away in his high pressured job.
"The vast majority of the texts are entirely innocuous and mainly about the financial settlement," said the lawyer.
"There is some significance in the fact the complainant did not think to report the matter to police until over a year later when she found her partner charged with assault."
Mr Wilson added that his client's behaviour was very much in the "context of the end of a long term relationship" and that Mr Gibson, who admited the offence, accepted he had acted inappropriately.
He was fined £400.
