A former Scottish footballer who shouted at his estranged wife and acted threateningly towards her has been ordered to stay out of trouble for six months.
The sportsman was found guilty of causing his wife fear and alarm during an argument over who would look after their sick daughter earlier this month.
Elgin Sheriff Court heard he leaned over her intimidatingly while shouting which drove his daughter to tears.
His estranged wife believed that his body language implied he might lose his temper and hit her.
Yesterday, he attended court to be sentenced and defence agent Robert Cruickshank commended his client for being so insightful in reports written up about the incident.
He said: “This is a story of great regret and the saddest outcome of this will be in impact it will have on his children, particularly the two older ones.
“It is a matter of sadness and he apologises as he should have walked away when he was asked to.
“The couple have both engaged the services of solicitors who are negotiating their position in respect of the children.
“The whole incident was hugely out of character for him.”
The footballer was found guilty of acting in a threatening manner on February 24.
Sheriff Olga Pasportnikov deferred sentence for six months to allow the footballer to prove he can stay out of trouble and be of good behaviour.
She said: “I recognise this incident took place in the middle of a tense living situation for you and your wife.
“I will allow things to settle down and get an update in six months.”