A stalker who threatened to petrol bomb a woman’s home after she ended their romance has been spared jail – thanks to his victim’s pleas to the court.
Kenneth Taylor met Pauline Robertson online, but began harassing her after she ended the brief relationship.
He threatened to petrol bomb her home in Deeside, and sent her a picture of him attempting to commit suicide.
The offshore worker previously admitted bombarding Miss Robertson with calls to her mobile, work and home, and sending dozens of video, picture, text and Facebook messages between October 1, 2013 and February 21 last year.
But yesterday Miss Robertson said she was glad Taylor had not been locked up, and described him as “genuinely a nice guy”.
She said she hoped he would now get the help he needed to address his issues.
Aberdeen Sheriff Court heard that Taylor, of 8 Geddes Avenue, Portknockie, and Miss Robertson had started dating after meeting online in 2013.
But the relationship began to sour when Taylor became increasingly jealous and insecure, fiscal depute David Bernard said.
He said the 35-year-old began accusing Miss Robertson of seeing other men, and became increasingly paranoid.
Mr Bernard added that the romance shortly before Christmas. Upset, Taylor phoned Miss Robertson and told her he was going to petrol bomb her house.
Then, on Christmas Eve 2013, Taylor turned up at her work in Banchory with laiden with presents, which he threw at her feet.
The court heard later that evening he called her saying he wanted the presents back, and was coming to get them.
Scared by his earlier threat, Miss Robertson left the house and placed the presents on the doorstep of her home.
The court heard the couple did briefly reconcile, but split again after Taylor’s behaviour continued. It was at this point he sent her a picture which looked as though he was taking an overdose.
Yesterday Sheriff Graham Buchanan said the offence was so serious he would have been more than entitled jail Taylor.
However he said that as his victim did not wish to see him locked up, he would give him one more chance – and warned him not to contact Miss Robertson again.
Taylor was placed under supervision for 18 months and ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.