A DUMBARTON man who spent 14 months harassing his former partner has been ordered to stay away from her for five years.

Between November 1, 2019, and January 24, 2021, Gordon Caldwell engaged in a course of behaviour which was abusive of his ex.

He repeatedly checked on the woman’s whereabouts and who she was in the company of, contacted her by email and social media, threatened to harm himself, and contacted the woman’s friends.

The 33-year-old also sent messages intimating to his victim that he knew where she was and who she was with, and requested that she does not flirt with anyone or enter into another relationship.

The offences took place at Bellsmyre Avenue, Duck Bay and elsewhere in Scotland.

Caldwell, of Whiteford Avenue, appeared at Dumbarton Sheriff Court on Friday, January 14 for sentencing after admitting the domestically-aggravated charge.

Handing him a community payback order as a direct alternative to a prison sentence, Sheriff Maxwell Hendry told Caldwell: “There are ways of handling stressful situations and ways of not handling them appropriately.

“For some period of time you seem to have taken the second route.

“That seems to have stopped now.”

Caldwell must carry out 100 hours of unpaid work in the community within 12 months.

He was also handed a non-harassment order requiring him to not contact his ex partner, or to enter Bellsmyre Avenue, until January 2027.