An ambulanceman has been convicted of harassing his hospital nurse “ex” after being accused of bombarding her with unwanted WhatsApp and text messages.

Bruce Urquhart, aged 56, of Nant y Glyn Road, Colwyn Bay, had ignored requests for him to stop and made “insulting and upsetting” comments, magistrates at Llandudno were told.

Barrister William Hingston, defending, said Urquhart had “clearly employed a lack of judgement” after an acrimonious split. But his actions weren’t to harass Rita Evans, formerly Green. “He was clearly hurting after the relationship, he doesn’t deny that. There were issues that needed to be sorted out,” the lawyer said. “This is a professional man of good character.”

But after a trial on Friday, JPs found him guilty of harassing the nurse and ordered a pre-sentence report.

Mrs Evans, who has two grown-up sons and worked at Glan Clwyd Hospital, told the court she and Urquhart had been in a relationship for nearly four years until the end of June, and they had lived together. But after the split there were “constant” messages into the night, including songs sent to her, and she couldn’t sleep.

Messages became “nastier” and Urquhart had in one described her as the “laughing stock of the hospital.” She said they had split up “numerous” times during the relationship and she broke off their engagement. Mrs Evans rejected Mr Hingston’s suggestion that she had exaggerated the impact on her of the contact.

Urquhart told the court:”When a relationship breaks up I don’t think you can just flick a light off.” He said :”I am a human being, I have got feelings.”

But prosecutor Julia Galston said the messages caused “a considerable amount of distress.” The alleged harassment was between July 6 and September 10. “You say ‘no more Mr Nice Guy!’,” she pointed out. The ambulanceman replied :”Because I have been too nice.” Mrs Galston said the victim had feelings as well.

“You have harassed this lady,” the prosecutor maintained. Urquhart insisted:”No.”