A jealous ex-boyfriend sent a menacing video message to his former partner’s pal in which he threatening to take a hammer to the skull of “anyone that has harmed her”.
Stuart McKinley, 27, admitted sending numerous abusive telephone calls, messages and videos to his ex-girlfriend and her friend in an attempt to get in contact with the pair on April 24 2021.
He also pleaded guilty to acting in a manner that was likely to cause fear or alarm to the two women – alongside causing reckless damage to a number of properties and a vehicle on the same night.
‘A hammer will go right over their skull’
Fiscal depute Ross Canning told the court how McKinley’s behaviour escalated after his former partner ignored his messages and blocked his number.
He said: “Over the course of the late evening and early morning there were numerous messages received on Facebook messenger – he wanted to know her location.
“At 2.50am a friend of the woman received a number of messages from the accused – she then received a video message from him which said: ‘I’m in my car. I swear to anyone that has harmed her a hammer will go right over their skull. Where are you?'”
The court also heard how McKinley then caused destruction at two properties in Kingswells by striking a door with a hammer, before kicking at a door and a mirror at a separate property belonging to his former partner.
The 27-year old, who was living in Westhill at the time, caused damage to a vehicle by smashing a window panel and damaging a tyre and bodywork.
Accused ‘lost it that night’
Defence agent Neil McRobert stated that McKinley had become “jealous and angry” on finding out his former partner was on a night out with friends.
He added: “It is an understatement to say that he lost it that night.”
Sheriff William Summers told McKinley that his actions had been “very concerning”.
He added: “These are serious offences and they often result in a custodial sentence.”
Sheriff Summers sentenced McKinley, of Teith Road, Stirling, to a community payback order with a supervision requirement of one year and 140 hours of unpaid work.
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