A MAN who carried out an abusive course of conduct against his former partner has been told he cannot contact the woman for the next five years.

Jamie McKee, 40, caused the woman to suffer fear and alarm over a four-week period earlier this year.

McKee repeatedly telephoned his ex-partner and left her voicemails when she did not wish to be contacted.

McKee also approached the woman and attempted to enter her vehicle during an incident at Newhailes Retail Park on February 20.

The offender then prevented the woman from reversing her vehicle out of the car park and began following her in his own vehicle towards Newcraighall Road, Edinburgh Sheriff Court was told.

READ MORE: Man tried to get into ex-partner's car, then followed her

The court also heard that, during the incident, McKee had pulled up alongside the woman’s car and shouted at her, and followed her to her brother’s home and to the Tesco supermarket in Musselburgh.

He was subsequently arrested after being reported to the police and pleaded guilty to the offences during a court hearing in the Capital in June.

The court was told that the offences all took place at an address in Musselburgh and elsewhere between January 23 and February 26.

Sentence had been deferred for social work reports and for McKee to attend for an assessment with the domestic abuse organisation Caledonian Men’s Programme.

McKee, of Rothesay Place, Musselburgh, returned to the dock last Monday, where Sheriff Charles Walls sentenced him to a community-based disposal.

McKee was placed under the supervision of the social work department for 18 months and ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work in the community.

Sheriff Walls also issued McKee with a non-harassment order where he cannot approach or contact his former partner in any way for the next five years.