A MAN hid raw chicken within the bodywork of his ex-partner’s car during a 13-month campaign of domestic abuse, a court has been told.

Robert Herriot had initially refused to return the vehicle to his former partner but when he eventually did came up with the stunt which would leave a foul smell in the car.

He removed a section of panelling and concealed a piece of raw chicken within the bodywork before handing it to her.

Other examples of 40-year-old Herriot’s abuse included leaving a letter addressed to his ex-partner on her father’s grave at Shawfield Cemetery in Selkirk, repeatedly contacting her by telephone and social media when asked not to and repeatedly contacting her new partner and making indecent and offensive remarks about his ex-partner to him.

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He also drove his vehicle towards the couple causing it to mount the kerb, resulting in them having to take evasive action to avoid being struck and repeatedly posted offensive comments on social media about his former partner.

Herriot, of Montgomery Square, Innerleithen, pleaded guilty at Jedburgh Sheriff Court to engaging in a course of conduct which was abusive to a partner or ex-partner at venues in Galashiels and Selkirk between April 2020, and May 14, 2021.

Sheriff Peter Paterson imposed a jail sentence of 18 months as well as a Non-Harassment Order, banning Herriot from contacting his former partner for five years.