A lout told his ex-partner he hoped she would catch Covid and die during a “tirade” of furious emails.
Andrew Gordon bombarded the woman with emails between April 24 2020 and Christmas Day the same year, before sending a further email in September 2021.
During the messages, the 39-year-old ranted about his former partner being “selfish” and taunted that he hoped she would become infected with coronavirus and that it would kill her.
Fiscal depute Rebecca Thomson told Aberdeen Sheriff Court Gordon and the woman had been in a relationship for six years before it ended in 2011.
The pair rekindled things in 2014 for a spell before splitting up again.
Ms Thomson said between April and December 2020 the woman received “abusive and derogatory” emails from Gordon.
One email, sent in June, contained numerous swear words. It also said: “I hope you get the virus and it kills you. P*** off and die.
“I wish you were dead. I absolutely hate your guts.”
Not all of the emails were read out, but the court heard the messages continued in a similar fashion.
Gordon, of Colthill Circle, Milltimber, pled guilty to a domestically aggravated charge of sending the woman messages that were grossly offensive, or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character, by repeatedly sending her emails containing abusive and derogatory remarks between April 24 2020 and September 5 2021.
‘As despicable as one could possibly imagine’
Defence agent Mike Monro said that following the “tirade” of messages continued until December 25 2020 and that after that there was nothing until September 2021.
He added the couple had been in a relationship “which became off-on and eventually what can only be described as platonic”.
Mr Monro explained his client had previously provided help and support to the woman.
He added: “The accused then became disappointed when he started to have problems and he turned to her for such moral assistance and it was not forthcoming.
“He got himself into a bad position mentally, made worse as a result of Covid and lockdown.
“All of the comments were totally unnecessary and unacceptable and as despicable as one could possibly imagine.”
‘They were clearly designed to upset your former partner’
Mr Monro said his client became “distressed” when going through the messages with him.
Sheriff William Summers interjected: “You’ll understand I’m not really concerned about the distress he was caused, but rather the distress the complainer was caused.”
Mr Monro said: “He now understands the extreme distress he must have caused this lady.”
Sheriff Summers told the content of the messages was “shocking” as well as “deplorable and despicable”.
He added: “They were clearly designed to upset your former partner and that is the effect they had.”
The sheriff handed Gordon 12 months supervision, 180 hours of unpaid work and a five-year non-harassment order, banning him from contacting the woman.
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