An Inverkeithing teenager began stalking a female he had only met online and never in person.

Christian Prince’s behaviour resulted in him appearing in the dock at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

Prince, 19, of Craigleith Avenue, admitted that between June 21 and July 15 this year he engaged in stalking offences against a female.

He excessively contacted her by various social media platforms, telephone calls and emails, created and used multiple online profiles to contact her and refused to desist.

Depute fiscal Brogan Moffat said the pair had met online through playing computer games. However, in June there was disagreement between them and the female sent a message saying she wanted no more contact with him.

Prince would not accept this and when he tried to communicate with her, she blocked him and his family members. He then made new profiles trying to contact her and also sent emails.

The young woman contacted her local police in Sussex.

Defence solicitor Elaine Buist said: “They had never actually met in person, only online.”

Sheriff Wylie Robertson imposed a community payback order with one year of supervision and a non-harassment order for 16 months.