Jail warning for stalker who followed his ex partner as part of an 'insidious campaign' of abuse
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A man has been found guilty of charges of stalking, abusive behaviour and breaches of bail after a long trial – and was warned by the sheriff that he hasn't ruled out a prison sentence.
Alan Bain (34) was said by a sheriff to have raised an "insidious campaign" against his former partner Miss X and her new boyfriend Mr Y.
It happened after she left Bain in 2018 and moved in with her new partner in a Caithness village after a nine-year relationship she described as "volatile, abusive and controlling".
Miss X said that despite finishing with Bain, he continued to dog her. She told one of the earlier court sittings that it was like "walking on eggshells" and that she panicked whenever she saw him.
Bain, who denied all the charges, was said to have shouted and swore at Miss X at her new home in the village, parked his car close to the house and followed her and Mr Y in his car and made false complaints to his employers about her and her family.
Bain also failed to comply with a bail condition banning him from having any contact with the couple.
Sheriff Donald Ferguson said he accepted their evidence as being credible and reliable and was satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that Bain had engaged in a course of conduct which had caused Miss X to suffer "physical and psychological stress".
The sheriff said that the accused's conduct had continued despite the bail condition banning him from having contact with the couple.
Sheriff Ferguson said that he was able to draw inferences from other Crown witnesses on aspects of Bain's conduct.
The sheriff continued: "The accused in his evidence said what he wanted to say – he was in control. He tried to explain away the various charges. I didn't find that the defence witnesses added much to the case."
Continuing the case until July 21 for a background report, Sheriff Ferguson told Bain: "When you speak to the social worker I want you to take responsibility for your actions and show some insight into them.
"It won't help if the report contains comments, complaints and allegations from you as if you are trying to ignore the situation you are in."
The sheriff described the offences as "the worst case of domestic abuse" he had ever encountered and warned Bain that he would consider prison among his sentencing options.
