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An Ayr-based cop faces misconduct proceedings after a series of creepy stalking offences against his ex-partner.

Alan McLuckie planted flowers in the woman’s garden and sent her handwritten notes which left her “freaked out”.

McLuckie, a police officer with eight years service, previously pleaded guilty to stalking when he appeared before Kilmarnock Sheriff Court.

His lawyer explained that Police Scotland will now carry out a misconduct investigation against McLuckie.

The 42-year-old returned to the dock this week to be sentenced and was told by Sheriff Michael Hanlon that his actions, which took place between March and May, were “in no way whatsoever romantic”.

McLuckie left his victim “uncomfortable” and “freaked out” after he repeatedly turned up at her home address in Ardrossan uninvited, planted flowers in her garden when she was away and continuously sent her notes, flowers and ornaments in a bid to rekindle his former relationship with her.

The court heard how McLuckie, of Middlepart Crescent, Saltcoats sent the woman various emails trying to reconcile after she blocked his number.

The woman emailed him and “made it clear that further contact was not wanted” and that she was “uncomfortable and freaked out.”

However, McLuckie failed to stop and continued contacting her - including leaving a creepy message on March 19, saying she had left her lights on at the rear of her house.

He began sending her handwritten notes and flowers and was also spotted by a neighbour on the night of March 30 planting daffodils in the woman’s garden.

The court heard how the woman was “alarmed” when she returned from a camping trip to find the flowers in her garden and ripped them from the ground.

But she returned from work the following day to find the hole had been filled in again with a rose and a note from McLuckie.

The behaviour continued until the woman was forced to send McLuckie, via a solicitor, a letter stating that his behaviour would be viewed as harassment if it continued.

But that still didn’t stop McLuckie sending her more flowers and notes saying “I love you” which, the court heard, reduced the woman to tears.

On May 7, the woman reported McLuckie to officers at Saltcoats police office and he was later arrested and cautioned and charged.

He pleaded guilty to engaging in a course of conduct which caused his ex-partner fear or alarm.

Following McLuckie’s sentencing last week, defence solicitor advocate Callum Anderson explained that police will now proceed with their own misconduct proceedings and that McLuckie anticipated “having to go back to his previous trade and find a job outside the police”.

He explained how McLuckie “became obsessed with the complainer and struggled to accept that the relationship was over” but that he “now accepts that there is no prospect of reconciliation.” Sheriff Hanlon said: “I have heard a lot about the motivation being your feelings towards the complainer and how that effected your behaviour.

“What you were doing was in no way whatsoever romantic and I have a slight concern about your failure to realise the effect, on the complainer, of your actions.”

McLuckie was sentenced to a restriction of liberty order for 13 weeks with an electronic tag.

He will also be under supervision for 24 months and ordered to attend the Caledonian Programme for domestic abuse education.

A non-harassment order against the woman was also granted for three years.