A GALASHIELS man has been found guilty of placing a Peebles woman in a state of fear and alarm by following her for more than half-an-hour.

Colin McCraw of Meigle View, tailed charity worker Angela Preston on the morning on June 30 along Kingsmeadows Road and later at Glensax Road - and even waited outside a friend’s house after she took refuge.

The 20-year-old had denied the charge.

But following a two-part trial which took place in both Peebles and Selkirk sheriff courts he was found guilty.

While giving evidence Mrs Preston described how McCraw began following her as she made her way to work on the Monday morning.

She told the court: “I kept thinking it’s Monday morning in Peebles and this shouldn’t be happening.

“I double-backed before the woods and as I started to walk back he went over a small wall. I though that I was maybe being paranoid but when I turned round he was standing next to conifers staring at me. I realised he was deliberately following me.” It was only after the witnesses sought help from an off-duty policewoman that her ordeal ended.

McCraw was also charged with following Susan Connolly and placing her in a state of fear a short time later.

But a no case to answer submission by defence lawyer Rory Bannerman on the second charge was upheld by Sheriff Peter Paterson during the final part of the trial at Selkirk Sheriff Court on Tuesday.

Sheriff Paterson deferred sentence for the production of a Criminal Justice Social Work Report on the accused.

McCraw will return to Selkirk Sheriff Court to be sentenced on Monday, January 19.