A married mother stalked a man for more than three years after their affair ended.
Karen Anderson, 47, was furious when she heard 28-year-old farmer David Gray had made derogatory remarks about her following the ending of their fling.
Selkirk Sheriff Court heard that the pair had known each other socially for years and they had a “brief liaison” around 2007 and 2008 when Mr Gray was just 22.
But after that, obsessed Anderson plagued him with telephones calls and text messages, and he eventually reported her to the police. Even after she had appeared in court accused of harassing him, she breached an order by repeatedly texting him over the Christmas and New Year period from her home at Shawmount Farm, near Selkirk, where she lives with her husband and family.
Anderson pleaded guilty to breaching the court order, as well as another charge of causing fear and alarm by repeatedly texting and phoning Mr Gray over a three-year period and driving past the home of his new girlfriend.
Prosecutor Tessa Bradley told last week’s hearing: “They had known each other socially for several years and had a brief liaison in 2007 and 2008. Following the end of that, Mrs Anderson made repeated attempts to contact Mr Gray by telephone calls, text messages and by passing letters.
“For some time and for some years he tried to ignore this, hoping it would stop.
“The volume of this increased rather than decreased over the years. For some of that time he was out of the country in Canada, but when he returned things went on as before.
“The volume of texts and phone calls was high – going into hundreds. They were often repeated phone calls on the same date. This carried on for some years.”
Ms Bradley added: “The tone became more aggressive and, amongst other things, she said she would come to his home if he continued to ignore her. In the meantime, he started a new relationship.”
The prosecutor told Sheriff Peter Paterson that in December last year it became clear to Mr Gray that his approach was not going to work and he contacted the police.
Ms Bradley went on: “She was released on an undertaking and ordered not to contact him, but following her release she continued to send him a large number of text messages.”
Anderson was held in custody and appeared in court on January 10 for breaking the undertaking.
Robert More, defending, said since she was released on bail she had not contacted Mr Gray or his girlfriend, and had not entered areas of Selkirk she was banned from.
The lawyer told the court: “She presents herself today as a lady overcome with shame and embarrassment.
“She is due to turn 48 years old in two days’ time and is appearing in a criminal court for the first time.”
Mr More added: “It is fair to say that she felt quite let down by Mr Gray and what she perceived were his actions.
“They live in a small community and are members of similar social clubs, and Mrs Anderson heard information had been disseminated about her which was not flattering, and she was not happy about it.”
Sheriff Paterson deferred sentence for six months for good behaviour.