Death threats to love rival
Jealous chef is handed £ 350 fine
A chef boiled over when he believed his girlfriend had been bedded on a Christmas night out.
And he made it known that he intended to fillet his older love rival – also a chef.
Alex Shields, 24, sent a social media message to Willie McGinnis saying, “You’re a dead man, by the way.”
Ayr Sheriff Court heard that Mr McGinnis was alarmed and unsure why he received the message.
He contacted a friend, Graeme Hay, who also knew Shields – a chef at Ayr’s Ellisland House Hotel.
Mr Hay spelled it out that Shields believed Mr McGinnis – nicknamed Big Dog – had sex with his girlfriend the night before.
Mr Hay suggested, also by message, that Shields should simply ask his girlfriend, Shannon Evans.
Shields replied that he had done so, and the young woman assured him ’ nothing had happened’.
Shields then messaged Mr Hay that he intended to ‘ cut McGinnis ear- to- ear’.
Mr Hay was fearful of Shields’ state of mind, the court heard. And he advised him against doing anything stupid.
But Shields messaged back: “Too late – I’m already on my way.”
Shields’ destination was the Brewers Fayre Monkton Lodge, where McGinnis was staying.
Hotel manager John McQuiston, who stayed in a flat opposite McGinnis, saw Shields looking ‘ agitated’.
And Mr McQuiston formed the view that he was under the influence of substances of some kind.
S h i e l d s t o l d M r McQuiston he wasn’t leaving until he saw Willie McGinnis – head chef at Table Table Pub Restaurants.
Mr McQuiston tried to get Shields to leave, as his young daughter was becoming frightened, the court heard.
Mr McQuiston later noticed the words ‘ dead man’ carved into the front door of Mr McGinnis’ flat.
Police were informed, and Shields was traced and arrested.
Defence lawyer Martin Duffy said Shields had no previous convictions, and was in employment.
He had been in a relationship with Shannon Evans for three years.
“There had been a Christmas night out, and his partner admitted she had been unfaithful,” said Mr Duffy.
“He is remorseful about what occurred, which was very much out of character, and there is not going to be a repetition.”
Shields, of Raith Avenue, Prestwick, admitted three charges: sending threatening messages to Willie McGinnis; sending threatening messages to Graeme Hay about Willie McGinnis and carving a threatening message on a door.
Sheriff Desmond Leslie told Shields: “You seem to have lost all sense of propriety – your temper has run away with you, and this is quite a sequence of events.”
The sheriff decided the matter could be dealt with by a fine, and imposed a £ 350 penalty.
You seem to have lost all sense of propriety Desmond Leslie