An offshore worker who broke a bail condition to stay away from the street where an alleged stalking victim lives was admonished yesterday.
Lorne Caldwell had been remanded in custody on the bail breach charge since September 7 as he was awaiting trial after being accused of stalking 60-year-old Jennifer Syme.
At Inverness Sheriff Court on Monday, the 44-year-old was acquitted of the stalking charge but found guilty of being in Wilson Street where Ms Syme stayed.
Sentence was deferred until yesterday as Sheriff John Rafferty wanted to know if Caldwell’s job as an offshore worker was still open to him.
Caldwell’s solicitor Natalie Bruce told the court: “He still has his employment but he works project to project and has lost his place on the project he was working on.
“As a result he has lost two months wages which is considerable. However, he has savings if a financial penalty is being considered.”
Sheriff Rafferty replied: “He has suffered considerable financial loss while he was in custody. Although it is a serious matter, I will admonish.”
At his trial, it emerged that Caldwell of Flat A, 60 Seabank Road, Nairn believed he was in a relationship with Ms Syme but she denied this was the case.
After being charged with stalking Ms Syme in August, Caldwell was ordered to stay away from Wilson Street in Nairn, where Jennifer Syme lived, and not to contact or attempt to contact her.
But less than a month later, Caldwell was seen in the street on September 5 by Ms Syme and a teenager.
Ms Syme told the court that “good friend” Caldwell kept coming to her house on August 8 and was drunk, making her feel scared.
She claimed he had thrown a wheelie bin at her front door, which he had also kicked. She also said he had threatened to kill her.
But Sheriff Rafferty found that charge not proven.