A serial stalker once branded a “dangerous predator” has been ordered to stay away from his latest girlfriend for five years.
Scott Ramage had been jailed for 27 months in a previous case for hounding an ex-partner.
He’s been spared another prison sentence, but slammed for his “nasty and premeditated” behaviour.
Ramage, 41, admitted a course of abusive behaviour towards a woman in Coltness, between November 12 and 17 last year.
Hamilton Sheriff Court heard she blocked him on her mobile phone and social media, but he bombarded her with lengthy letters and e-mails that contained abusive, threatening and sexual comments, as well as references to suicide.
Defence agent Mark Harrower said Ramage accepted he has “personality flaws” and had come to court prepared for another jail sentence.
The solicitor stressed there were no threats of violence against the woman and the only person Ramage intended to harm was himself.
Mr Harrower added: “He has pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.”
Ramage was given a non-harassment order, banning him from any contact with the woman for five years.
Sheriff Allan McKay said he was prepared to put him under supervision for one year as an alternative to custody.
Ramage, of Loganlea Place, Edinburgh, was also handed an electronic tagging order that restricts his movements for the next six months.
The sheriff told him: “This is nasty stuff. It’s not done on a whim – it’s premeditated.
“You need to take control of your emotions.
“Any further offending will mean you go to prison for a long time.”
In 2014, Ramage appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court and was banned from using social media for a year after pestering a woman who had broken off their relationship.
At that point Sheriff Gordon Liddle described him as a “dangerous predator”.
Ramage continued to harass the woman – a psychiatrist – and later the same year he was jailed for 27 months.
The court heard that he had sent text messages, posted videos and used Facebook in an effort to win her back.
As well as jailing him, Sheriff Kenneth Mciver imposed a seven-year non-harassment order.
He told Ramage: “Your actions have effectively destroyed the quality of this woman’s life.”
