A father sent an abusive Facebook message to the man who gave evidence against his son in court wishing him “chronic pain”.
Pizza delivery man Gary Dempster’s relative was eventually convicted and jailed after a trial – prompting the message on August 26 last year.
Fiscal depute Anna Chisholm said: “The accused made reference to returning the favour and stated ‘what you said will have been the biggest mistake of your life and I hope you’re still in chronic pain. The more the better’.”
Ms Chisholm said the man “perceived these remarks to be threatening”.
She added: “There was no further contact from the accused and the man reported the matter to the police.”
Dempster, 56, whose address was given in court papers as Sheddocksley Drive, Aberdeen, pled guilty to sending the man a Facebook message that was grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character.
Defence agent Bruce MacDonald said his client works as a pizza delivery driver but had been off work for some time.
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He said the origin of the matter was the man had given evidence against his son and he had been convicted and jailed subsequently.
He said Dempster had been “deeply affected” by the outcome of the trial, adding: “He can’t understand why the complainer in this case gave the evidence he did.
“When he was interviewed about this Mr Dempster was very open and frank with the police.
“He just told them right off what it was all about.
“He had no intention of physically harming the complainer.”
Sheriff Robert McDonald said: “The way in which you behaved is not just a case of being offensive towards the man, but this is a result of evidence that was given at a trial and a serious view has to be taken of that.
“People giving evidence have to be able to give evidence without people threatening them of sending them messages like this.”
He ordered him to pay a fine of £400.
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