An ambulanceman accused of harassing his hospital nurse “ex” by bombarding her with unwanted WhatsApp and text messages has been ordered to do 200 hours unpaid work.

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.

The victim had since married a doctor, the court heard.

The defendant was found guilty of the offence, which he denied, after a trial.

At a sentencing hearing, court chairman Peter Hughes told Urquhart: "This is a very unpleasant incident.”

The ambulanceman was ordered to pay £250 compensation and £735 costs.

A restraining order bans further contact with Rita Evans.

James Neary, prosecuting at the sentencing hearing, said Urquhart was described as “jealous and controlling” and made comments about Mrs Evans, formerly Green, speaking to other people and about her clothes.

But after they split in June his attitude changed and he started to declare his love for the nurse.

At the trial hearing last week 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.”

The alleged harassment was between July 6 and September 10.

Defence solicitor Donald Roberts said Urquhart, who had been with the ambulance service more than 20 years, disputed some of the allegations.

Mr Roberts said the messages were not threatening and finished at the end of July because police went to see his client.

The only reason for contact after that was because he had been a trustee of some money left for her sons. “Mr Urquhart’s last contact occurred on or about September 10,” the lawyer said.

The solicitor said the victim had married a doctor in November or December. “She’s back at work, she’s moved on. Mr Urquhart has no intention of contacting her again,” he added.