A PENSIONER who had an affair with his first wife behind his second wife’s back has been ordered by a sheriff to attend a positive relationships course.
John Elder, 66, was said to have begun stalking first wife Elizabeth Blair after their affair soured and she eventually reported his obsessive behaviour to Police Scotland.
Sheriff Fiona Tait told Perth Sheriff Court: “They were married 30 years ago and then Mr Elder re-married.
“There was then a relationship between the accused and complainer and this happened in that context.
“I understand from the social work report that has come to an end and he has returned to his second wife.”
Speaking about the sentence, Miss Blair said her former husband was “one of the nicest guys you could ever meet until he had a drink in him”.
She said he could then be “controlling and nasty” but was also “charming and attentive”.
Asked if Elder needed relationship counselling, she said: “You’d have to ask his second wife that”.
“I didn’t know what to expect,” she said.
“I didn’t even know it was going to court. As far as I’m concerned it’s over and done with.
“I just want to be left alone.”
Fiscal depute Stuart Richardson said: “Mr Elder and Miss Blair are in a rather unusual relationship.
“She said to him he couldn’t stay at her premises and he would have to go elsewhere.
“There were a number of phone calls and he regularly turned up uninvited at her home.
“He was sending her gifts and letters.
“There were no threats at all.
“On one final occasion he invited her to spend the day with him and she said she couldn’t because she had a hospital appointment.
“He then pitched up at the hospital and questioned staff about where she was.”
Elder, 66, of Perth, admitted stalking his former wife Elizabeth Blair between February 12 and March 3 this year.
Sheriff Tait noted Elder had alcohol problems since retiring and she placed him under supervision for nine months and told him to attend the positive relationships course.
It is understood Mr Elder and Miss Blair were married for four years before divorcing.
It is believed they have two grown-up children together.
A positive relationship course is often led by counsellors with the aim of helping the client repair their love life that could be coasting towards the rocks.
In 2014, the UK Government announced plans for new parents to be given relationship counselling by health visitors under government plans to instil basic concepts – such as “love, compassion and trust” – into marriages.
Preventative relationship support tries to help couples understand what they may face together and to see that staying together can be a positive thing.
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