Keith man (27) sentenced to community service after following ex-partner in vehicle

A MORAY man who followed his ex-partner in a car from Rothiemay to Elgin has been sentenced to community service.

Elgin Sheriff Court heard that Ross Nicol had been driving to visit a friend, when he spotted his ex-partner leaving her mothers house as a passenger in her new partners car, and decided to follow her.

The 27-year-old from Station Road in Keith then drove behind the car on various roads from Rothiemay to Elgin while sending social media messages and making phone calls to the victim, demanding to know her movements and shouting at her to pull the car over. He also reportedly told the victim that he was planning to "get" her new partner.

After following the car around the Elgin McDonald's roundabout three times, Nicol then drove off and the police were called.

Sheriff David Harvey said: "This is appalling behaviour over a very prolonged period. You had plenty of time to calm down but it appears towards the end you are still shouting down the phone - who do you think you are? You describe what happened as having exploded, think how you would feel if you had been pursued by a driver who had exploded?"

Nicol was ordered to carry out a community payback order with one year of supervision and was also ordered to take part in the Choose2Change programme. A two year non-harassment order was also imposed.