A Lossiemouth man who threatened to kill the mother of his child during a campaign of harassment has been spared a jail sentence.
James Munro repeatedly disobeyed court orders by contacting former partner Adella Young between December 2013 and July 2014.
Elgin Sheriff Court heard the 34-year-old threw stones at Ms Young’s windows, pursued her through Elgin town centre and phoned her saying he was going to murder her.
But the sheriff decided that since Munro’s last offence was last July, it appeared he had finally accepted the relationship between the pair was over – and decided not to send him to jail.
Munro, of 73 St Margaret’s Crescent, Lossiemouth, admitted breaching a bail order by approaching Ms Young in Elgin’s St Giles centre and later visiting her home on December 4, 2013.
Fiscal depute Kevin Corrins said: “During a phone call on January 17, 2014, Munro confronted Ms Young over allegations of infidelity and began to shout at her.
“The phone was on loudspeaker and other parties present were able to hear.
“In essence, he said he was going to have Ms Young murdered, then said he would kill her himself.”
On March 7, 2014, he again breached orders to stay away and went to her home, banging on the door and throwing stones until he was arrested by police.
Mr Corrins added that while in the back of a police van Munro managed to bang his shackled wrists against the vehicle so forcefully that he broke a pair of handcuffs.
And on July 7, 2014, Munro again repeatedly phoned and contacted his former partner.
Defence agent Stephen Carty told the court that many of the times he contacted Ms Young was to inquire after the welfare of their young child.
Sheriff David Hall deliberated over Munro’s sentence for several hours before calling him back to the dock.
He said: “When the court imposes bail conditions they are to be obeyed.
“But the fact you have stayed out of trouble for almost one year and now appear to accept the relationship between yourself and Ms Young is over means I am prepared to deal with these matters in such a way as to allow you to remain at liberty.”
Munro was fined £350 and ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work. He was also placed on a curfew between 7pm and 7am for months.