THE business editor of The Scotsman and Scotland on Sunday newspapers has been fined £500 and made the subject of a three-year non-harassment order after being found guilty of stalking a PR consultant with whom he had been in a relationship.

Terry Murden, 57, was convicted of engaging in a course of conduct which caused Nicki Sturzaker, 39, fear and alarm by attending her flat uninvited, leaving unwanted gifts and notes, repeatedly sending emails, which he knew were unwanted, swearing and uttering threats towards her.

He had also denied acting in a threatening and abusive manner, contacting her employers, and making reference to her in newspaper articles written or edited by him but was found guilty after a trial at Edinburgh Sheriff Court. The allegations referred to incidents between June 27 and October 4 last year.

Fining Murden £500, ­Sheriff Donald Corke said that because he was a first offender and there had been no problems while he was on bail, he would place him on a three-year non-harassment order.

Defence solicitor, Jim Stephenson, said "Mr Murden had difficulty coming to terms with the ending of the relationship". He did accept with hindsight that he should not have sent her repeated emails.

The lawyer said the conviction could have ­serious consequences for Murden's employment, as investigations into that had still not reached a conclusion.

He added that with the possible loss of his employment, he would have no income and had a mortgage on the family home and rent for the flat where he was living at the time.