Former Lord Provost banned from going near ex for five years

A former Lord Provost of Glasgow has been banned from going near his ex-partner for five years after bombarding her with texts and social media messages.

Philip Braat contacted the woman 122 times between July and September 2024 in an attempt to win her back.

Sheriff Owen Mullan ordered Braat to carry out 60 hours of unpaid work and fined him £840, following his guilty plea last month to a single charge of stalking.

He was elected as Lord Provost in 2020 and served in the role at Glasgow City Council for two years.

The woman had told Braat she was ending their three-year relationship in July 2024.

She received an email the next day from the councillor, which included an apparent resignation letter to his employer sent from his professional account.

She later had a phone call with him described as “very emotional and distressing”, where he said he did not want to live without her.

Between July and September, the woman received 18 emails, 51 Instagram messages, 15 text messages, 37 WhatsApp messages and a LinkedIn message.

The woman contacted police because she was concerned about his welfare, and Braat was traced to his parents’ address where he was found “safe and well.”

A LinkedIn message congratulating her on a professional award she received resulted in the woman going back to the police.

She stated that the messages were not nasty but there was “no escape” from Braat and she could “not cope any longer.”

Solicitor advocate Andrew Seggie, defending, told the court Braat was at a low point but was now remorseful for his behaviour.

Sheriff Mullan said Braat’s behaviour had “overstepped the mark” and that it would have been “stressful” for the woman.

Braat has represented the Anderston/City/Yorkhill ward since 2007 and is subject to an investigation by Scottish Labour.

He was the deputy Lord Provost in 2017 before taking on the senior role in 2020 until 2022.