A CHARITY volunteer who stalked three colleagues and sent them a photograph of Holocaust victims has been ordered to pay one of his victims £2,000 compensation.

Murray Middleton, 48, who worked at an Alzheimer's Scotland centre in Inverness, told the centre's day care organiser Hayley Lyons via Facebook that when he sends a birthday card he 'expects to be thanked for it,' adding that he no longer knew where he stood with her.

His victim, who is to receive the compensation, had not been able because she had been in hospital.

Inverness Sheriff Court heard yesterday how the 48-year-old Middleton had become depressed after losing his job and stalked Ms Lyons at the Woodlands Centre in Inverness, where he helped out, along with Arlene Bennett and Wendy Burgess.

Despite being told by a supervisor that Ms Lyons, who was surprised to receive the card as their relationship had been only business-like, that she had been unable to respond from hospital, he sent a series of messages.

He claimed on the social media site to have had mental health problems and said that if were to kill himself, it would be the staff's fault.

Procurator Fiscal Roderick Urquhart the incidents dated back to May 2014 said: "He sent her a Facebook message telling her that when he sends a birthday card he expects to be thanked for it and that he no longer knew where he stood with her.

"She found this strange as she had never considered herself anything other than a colleague.

"She contacted her supervisor, Wendy Burgess who explained him that Hayley Lyons had been in hospital and so hadn't been able to respond to his card."

Fiscal depute Mr Urquhart said Middleton also claimed that Alzheimer's Scotland was discriminating against him due to his mental health issues.

Ms Lyons assured him the organisation was treating all its volunteers fairly and stopped being his 'friend' on Facebook.

But Middleton continued to send text and phone calls to Ms Lyons day care organiser colleague, Arlene Bennett, for several weeks convincing her he was obsessed with her workmate.

She eventually blocked his phone number from her phone. Middleton was warned about his conduct by the Ms Burgess and the charity's area organiser and locked out of the building.

"Middleton then sent a letter to the Woodlands unit, blaming it on his depression. But a couple of weeks later he threatened to harm himself."

Sheriff Sutherland was told hhe posted a photo on Facebook of emaciated bodies, apparently taken at the time of the liberation of Jews from the Nazis at Belsen.

Mr Young explained: "He says the photographs reflected the segregation and persecution he felt at the charity and he apologises for it.

"His contribution to the charity was a significant and valuable one and he felt they showed no sympathy or empathy for his difficulties."

Sentencing Middleton, a first offender, to 180 hours of unpaid community as an alternative to prison after he pled guilty to stalking, Sheriff David Sutherland said he must following his supervising officer's recommendation of possible psychiatric or psychological treatment.

He had earlier admitted the charge and sentencing had been deferred until yesterday for background and mental health reports.

He added: "I am concerned with the effect this has had on the ladies but I will take into account the steps you have taken to deal with your health problems."

Defending, Willie Young said his client was depressed at the time of the offence having lost his job due to his mental health.

"That is now on a much more stable footing now and he has been passed fit to return to work."

Middleton has since apologised and now worked offshore. He would not return to the centre, the court heard.