Cardenden: Man appears at Dunfermline Sheriff Court over abuse

Andrew Reilly, 39, of Kirkburn Drive, appeared for sentencing at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

He admitted that between March 28 and April 14 at various locations in Lochgelly, Lochore and Kirkcaldy, he engaged in an abusive course of behaviour towards his former partner.

He contacted her repeatedly and excessively by phone, text and social media messages, remained silent on calls except for heavy breathing, repeatedly shouted, swore and threatened her by phone and sent an email making a false allegation about her to her employers.

Depute fiscal Eve McKaig said that after the couple split up, the woman started to have food takeaways arriving at her door.

She suspected immediately that Reilly was behind this as he had done this before.

Reilly also bombarded the woman with unwanted calls and made comments including: “You dirty little b******”. On other occasions, he did not speak but would just breathe heavily down the phone.

Reilly also sent an anonymous email to the care home the woman works at, claiming she was a drug addict.

At a previous hearing, defence solicitor Alexander Flett said the couple had reunited in January but had separated again by March.

“It became clear to him that she had not ended the previous relationship and he was significantly upset,” he added.

Sheriff David Hall was unimpressed by what he read about Reilly in the social work report.

He commented: “It’s the classic position in domestic abuse, blaming the victim. He’s been involved in domestic abuse offending for 12 years now.”

Reilly had told a social worker he would not take part in the Caledonian Programme for domestic abusers.

However, he apparently changed his mind and told his solicitor he would.

Sheriff Hall deferred sentencing again until August 3 to clarify the situation about whether Reilly would be willing to take part in the programme.

In the meantime, he imposed a three-year non-harassment order.