An Instagram star whose climbing adventures are followed by thousands of fans has been convicted of abusive behaviour towards his former girlfriend.
The woman, who branded Martin McGinley "nasty and manipulative," claimed the stormy relationship had damaged her mental health. McGinley, who served in the army, is the self-styled Scottish Adventurer.
The 36-year-old has nearly 10,000 followers on Instagram and posts videos of his Scottish mountain climbing feats on YouTube.
McGinley, of Glasgow, was found guilty this week of a course of abusive behaviour in East Kilbride and elsewhere during 2019 and 2020.
This included sending the woman abusive texts and WhatsApp messages and contacting her repeatedly when she tried to end the relationship.
McGinley followed her along a motorway on one occasion and filmed her in a state of undress after shoving her off a toilet seat.
After finding him guilty, Sheriff Colin Dunipace deferred sentence until next month for a criminal justice social work report and an electronic tagging assessment.
The sheriff, who allowed McGinley to remain on bail, will also consider imposing a non-harassment order.
Hamilton Sheriff Court heard that the couple's relationship hit the rocks after the woman found he'd been cheating on her with a former partner.
The woman, who gave evidence from behind a screen, described McGinley as "snappy and controlling".
She claimed he called her "100 times a day", pleading with her to give him another chance.
She said: "He is quite nasty in real life. He is manipulative and abusive.
"That's not the person he portrays himself to be all over social media.
"I've been left with mental health problems - depression and anger - because of all the stress. It will be a long time - and probably a lot of therapy - before I can have a serious relationship with someone else."
Giving evidence, McGinley denied the woman's allegations.
He told the court: "I tried to resolve things.
"I gave her access to my emails and social media, and I agreed to go to counselling. I had feelings for her and wanted it to work out. I jumped through the hoops she was laying out for me.
"I hurt someone so bad by sleeping with someone else. I felt terrible."
Prosecutor Scott O'Connor said McGinley had contacted the woman "incessantly" when she'd made it clear they were finished.
His "emotional blackmail" included threats to end his own life.
The fiscal said: "These messages had a psychological effect which he intended. These were the actions of a calculating man."
But McGinley's lawyer, Lee Doyle, said transcripts showed the woman had also sent abusive messages to her client.
She told the sheriff: "For the most part we have heard evidence of the nasty break-up of a relationship.
"He was trying to salvage the relationship at the behest of the complainer herself.
"She came across as a woman scorned. They didn't cover themselves in glory."
A charge that McGinley took a photo of a previous partner without her consent while they were having sex in a hotel was found not proven.
Allegations that McGinley pursued a course of abusive conduct towards that woman and acted in a threatening or abusive manner towards a third woman were dropped during the trial.
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