A 26-YEAR-OLD man has admitted stalking his former partner at her place of employment in the Borders.

Liam Omond pleaded guilty to engaging in a course of conduct likely to cause the woman fear and alarm by repeatedly turning up at her workplace at Home Bargains in Stirling Street, Galashiels, between June 5 and June 10 last year.

Selkirk Sheriff Court was told the couple had been in a relationship between March and May but had split up.

However Omond came into the shop on June 5 and tried to engage in conversation with her while she was serving at the till.

She did not engage with him and he went to another till.

The woman told her mother, who also worked in the shop, about what had happened.

It was noted that Omond returned to the shop later that day and tried to speak to her and she asked him to leave.

Omond, formerly of Galashiels but has moved down south, was spotted either in the shop on June 6, 7, 8 and 10.

The court heard that his repeated presence left the woman "feeling harassed".

Omond was arrested at 5.45pm on June 12 and was taken to Peebles Police Station where he was cautioned and charged.

Defence lawyer Mat Patrick said his client had no previous convictions and there had been no contact between the parties since the offence.

He said: "Put simply he should have been more sensitive to this young lady's feelings but I would say this is at the lower end of the scale.

"He has moved to England and has no plans to return here."

Omond was admonished on the charge but a Non-Harassment Order for one year preventing him from contacting the woman was imposed.