A CONCERT pianist who faces claims he harassed the best-­selling author Janice Galloway has been declared medically unfit to continue with his trial.

Graeme McNaught, 54, has pleaded not guilty at Hamilton Sheriff Court to behaving in a threatening and abusive manner towards Ms Galloway, leaving her fearful about her safety.

They had previously been in six-year on-off relationship, which dated back to 1990. They have a son James, aged 22.

Evidence has been heard over the past 13 days of the trial, but concerns over Mr McNaught's health led a sheriff to order that a medical examination be carried out on him by a doctor and a psychiatrist.

They have both now said he is not able to continue because of the effect it is having on him, and the jury has been discharged.

Sheriff Ray Small will conduct an examination of facts today, and afer that he will rule on whether McNaught, 54, committed the acts.

If he is found guilty, the sheriff has indicated McNaught will be ordered to receive further medical treatment.

Sheriff Small said: "I'm ­satisfied that having heard that there have been difficulties in the past in various areas and the current difficulties faced by the accused that the trial could not continue.

"My overriding role is to ensure fairness and I cannot see how the accused can receive a fair trial in the circumstances.

"Two medical practitioners have said that the accused is not in a condition to continue and would need a break of three to four weeks to rest, which I cannot do with a jury trial.

"I will now continue without the jury and will carry out an examination of facts."

Ms Galloway, the author of novels such as The Trick is to Keep Breathing, Foreign Parts and Blood, has given evidence, as have her son James, a London-based graphic designer and her husband Jonathan May, 53.

Ms Galloway, 58, of Uddingston, South Lanarkshire, at one point broke down in tears as she told how she feared being a victim of "revenge porn" at the hands of McNaught. The trial heard her claim that he had naked pictures of her and planned to use them at an exhibition.

In e-mails shown to the court, McNaught wrote: "I have photos of you, a couple of naked pregnant shots, which I am happy to copy and hand back - it could be your page 3 moment.

"There is, if not money, artistic capital in plenty to be had from seeing them beautifully framed and hung."

She added: "Have you heard of 'revenge porn', where ex-boyfriends post pictures of women who they have had relationships with on the internet?

"It felt like an early version of that. It was an utter dismissal that my attachment to him over the years had any meaning at all and it felt lousy. It was hellish."

The court also heard claims that Ms Galloway was concerned McNaught would try to take James, who was of school age at the time, at lunchtime following a custody battle.

In his evidence, McNaught claimed he had only been keen to remain friends with his former partner and they had met to discuss things. He said it was the author who could not let go, and that she had been pleased to see him when they met at The Arches in Glasgow one night.