An Inverness man who defied a court order banning him from approaching his ex-wife was yesterday ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid community work.
Inverness Sheriff Court was told it was the third time that Sean Hartley, now of Hazel Road, Abronhill, Cumbernauld, had breached a non-harassment order imposed in February, 2015 to protect his ex Samantha.
Sheriff Margaret Neilson was also told that Hartley had previously assaulted and abused spouse Samantha on several occasions and had been jailed for permanently disfiguring her.
Sentence was deferred last month for a background report on Hartley.
At that hearing, the court viewed CCTV footage of Hartley’s encounter with his former spouse on March 18.
He admitted the offence.
Fiscal depute Michelle Molley said Hartley repeatedly looked and stared in the direction of his ex-wife and moved closer to her as she stood in a queue at McDonalds in High Street, Inverness.
“She made to leave but he immediately moved in behind her and appears to touch her by placing his hand on her waist, and saying ‘I’m sorry.’
“He then moves past her and exits. He does not appear to have any food or drink. She was scared, intimidated and decided to go home.”
Ms Molley said Hartley was later seen to stare into a frozen food shop in Academy Street where his ex had gone into.
The fiscal asked Sheriff Neilson to impose a further non harrassment order for a period of up to five years. But yesterday the application was withdrawn when Hartley appeared for sentence.