A Kilmarnock prison officer who hounded his girlfriend in an 18-month stalking campaign has left his job.
Joe Pattie, 23, refused to leave former partner Blayre Howie alone after she broke off their relationship.
Blayre, also 23, said her life became a “living hell”, with Pattie constantly turning up at her work and home.
He called her up to 70 times a day using a work phone at HMP Kilmarnock and bombarded her with 50 texts daily, abusing her or begging her to take him back .
Blayre contacted Serco bosses three times about Pattie’s conduct and made an official complaint in January. An internal
investigation was launched and we can reveal that Pattie is no longer employed as a prison officer.
Hairdresser Blayre, from Kilmarnock, said: “It took over my life. I was afraid to go outside. He really thought he was above the law.
“Once I had 70 missed calls from HMP Kilmarnock – I had to block the number.
“In the end, I contacted the police because he wouldn’t leave me alone and his work didn’t seem to be able to do anything about it.”
In one voicemail message, Pattie told Blayre: “F****** phone me. I’ve not f****** messaged her. You’re f****** leaving me here, it’s absolutely ridiculous. F****** phone me.”
A text message he sent said: “Swear to God you better have phoned in by half three or your mum will see me tonight, I promise you. And if you say your mum won’t be in, trust me, I’ll wait.”
Blayre, who met Pattie in April 2015, said he quickly became “obsessive, manipulative, controlling and a pathological liar”.
In September, Pattie appeared at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court and admitted engaging in conduct that placed Blayre in a state of fear or alarm between July 2017 and January this year.
Last month, he was handed a community payback order and a non-harassment order lasting two years.
He was also told to compete 160 hours of unpaid work in six months.
Serco said: “This individual no longer works at HMP Kilmarnock .”
Pattie did not comment when contacted by our sister paper, the Sunday Mail.
