Elgin Sheriff Court hears abusive Moray man kept track of former partner’s location with AirTag

A man who admitted to being “verbally and emotionally abusive” towards his former partner has been ordered to carry out 160 hours of unpaid work.

The man, from Keith, appeared at Elgin Sheriff Court on Thursday, October 3, after admitting to engaging in a course of behaviour which was abusive towards his former partner.

The court heard that in December 2023, the 35-year-old separated from his partner of 14 years.

The pair agreed to continue to share a car, which they co-owned, so that they could continue to care for their three children after the separation.

However, procurator fiscal Victoria Silver told the court that the accused placed an AirTag tracking device in the vehicle so that he could track his ex’s location without her knowledge.

Ms Silver added that the man became abusive in his text messages. calling her a “sl*g” and accusing her of meeting other men.

The exchanges are said to have been “emotionally draining” and before long he started to show up at locations she had not told him she was visiting.

One incident, on June 10 this year, saw the accused arrive at the house of a male friend of his ex who she was visiting at the time.

He let himself into the stranger’s home and became abusive, stating that the use of the car was “for the kids not to sleep with other men”.

He then travelled to her parent’s home where he demanded to know what she had been up to since their separation.

On the same day, at around 2pm, she went to confide in a friend at their home but noticed the accused driving by in his work van.

Shortly after, he phoned demanding where she was and who she was with.

She travelled to the accused’s home to discuss his actions where he admitted to using an AirTag to track her whereabouts. She left after an argument ensued.

Later, he arrived at her home demanding sole possession of the car. She agreed to look for the vehicle’s documentation but contacted the police instead.

Defence solicitor Iain Maltman told the court that his client had been suffering from feelings of “overwhelming jealousy” as to how his former partner was moving on with her life and that the AirTag confirmed his “worst fears”.

Mr Maltman said that the accused concedes that his actions were “unacceptable” and that he fully accepts that the relationship is now at an end.

Sheriff David Harvie, addressing the accused, said: “How dare you.

“This is insidious, sickening behaviour. This is spying, coercive control, all of the the worst elements of male behaviour.

“A custodial sentence is a real possibility for this you know.”

Sheriff Harvie stopped short of imposing a custodial sentence.

Instead, he ordered the accused to carry out 160 hours of unpaid work with a one year supervision order.

He also put a non-harassment order in place for a period of three years with a condition that he can maintain contact with his children through a third party.