A BORDERS man sent threatening messages to his wife after she left him without explanation following 27 years of marriage.

Fifty-seven-year-old Stephen Deacon, of Melrose, pleaded guilty to a breach of the Communications Act in March earlier this year.

One message sent at 9.30am stated: "Family never come first with you. See when I find out where they are living they will be sorry they took you in," which the woman regarded as a threat towards her friends.

Another sent a day later said he would be seeing her real soon followed by an obscene name.

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Jedburgh Sheriff Court was told the police were contacted on March 8 and Deacon traced and made no comment.

Defence lawyer Ross Dow said his client was given no explanation why his wife left after 27 years of marriage and was struggling to come to terms about the end of the relationship.

He added: "He knows not to do this again."

A Non-Harassment Order was imposed for 18 months.