A married police officer who stalked a woman and tried to cover his tracks by tampering with evidence has been jailed for nearly three years.
Scott Gorrie’s life and career are in tatters after he was caught weaving an elaborate fantasy world to dupe his secret lover.
Sheriff William Wood jailed Gorrie, 43, but told him his greatest punishment would be that “your children will have to live with the fact their father is a disgraced police officer.”
The sheriff added: “It must be a source of considerable regret to anyone who knows you, or is concerned with those who serve in public office, the disrepute you have brought the police service into.
“It is thoroughly reprehensible.”
Gorrie, from Birkhill, Angus, faked a series of dramatic scenarios to con his paramedic lover into thinking both of their lives were in danger.
He later tried to convince acquaintances to tell lies for him in a bid to cover his tracks.
Yesterday at Perth Sheriff Court, the police constable was jailed for 32 months and made the subject of a three year non-harassment order.
His lawyer, Gary McIlravey, told the court Gorrie had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder after dealing with three cases involving child deaths.
Gorrie targeted the woman after being called to attend a domestic incident at her Alyth home, lured her into a relationship behind his wife’s back by friending her on Facebook, and bombarded her with 6,000 phone messages.
But he soon started creating a fantasy world to con her into thinking she was being stalked.
As the lies became more elaborate, Gorrie turned to two associates for help and tried to persuade them to tamper with evidence for him.
Fiscal Fiona Karnan told the court former car valeter Gorrie had been a constable with Police Scotland since 2015 and had been based in Blairgowrie at the time.
Knowing she was in the middle of a divorce, he tracked her down and within a few weeks was in a relationship with her.
Gorrie admitted four charges on indictment including stalking his victim between June 13 and 26 last year, causing her to believe she and her family were being monitored and were at risk of harm from others and two charges of perverting the course of justice. He also pled guilty to breaking a bail condition not to approach a property in Alyth on November 12.
Gorrie told his victim they were both being followed and he feared that their lives were in danger.
Mrs Karnan said: “This is not the usual stalking charge.
“He caused the complainer real fear and alarm.
“The relationship began to falter when she discovered he had fed her a pack of lies.”
The victim called Gorrie’s sergeant and an investigation began into his behaviour, leading to his arrest. Gorrie has since resigned from the force.
Les Brown, head of the Criminal Allegations Against the Police Division, said: “Stalking can have a devastating and lasting impact on the lives of victims.
“Scott Gorrie knowingly placed a vulnerable woman in a state of fear and alarm through his criminal behaviour.
“This was a full and thorough investigation by prosecutors and Police Scotland’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) and I am grateful to all involved for their assistance in securing today’s outcome.
“We will continue to prosecute stalking offences effectively and appropriately, and use the full powers of the legislation available to us.
“We would encourage anybody who is the subject of this type of behaviour to have no hesitation in reporting what is happening to the police and to be reassured that police and prosecutors take such offences extremely seriously.”
