Stalker with heart issues falls ill in dock

Pub singer’s fears for partner’s welfare

A man about to be sentenced for a stalking offence appeared to take ill in the dock.

Kevan Forrest, 53, looked agitated and used an inhaler, and Sheriff John Montgomery asked him to sit down.

“Are you alright, Mr Forrest? asked the sheriff. ” Are you focused?”

Forrest held his face in his hands, and seemed in a state of stress.

He said the inhaler was for a heart problem.

Depute fiscal Laurin Campbell earlier told the court how Forrest had stalked two women in the past year.

He had been in a 13- month relationship with the first woman, she said.

But Forrest didn’t accept it was over when the woman ended the affair in October last year.

He pleaded with her to go back with him, sending as many as 30 text messages per day.

Forrest knew she frequented Rabbie’s bar, and made a point of going in there, and even asking staff about her.

He did the same at the Picken’s butcher shop in Main Street, trying to gather information on her.

Forrest also wrote letters to the woman, and tried to pass on messages to her, via her relations.

Matters came to a head when Forrest shouted and swore at her, after she got into a taxi in Smith Street.

He admitted causing his ex fear and alarm in incidents between October 15 last year and January 2 this year.

Bizarrely, Forrest continued a pattern of unsavoury behaviour with a new lady in his life.

Ms Campbell described it as an ‘ onoff relationship’, although the woman was in court to support him.

She was said to be a pub singer, and Forrest had caused upset at one of her gigs in Ayr’s Black Bull.

“She started her act,” said Ms Campbell. “But he approached her, causing her annoyance.

“He demanded car keys that were already in his possession.

“He called her a f*** ing scumbag and a f*** ing psycho.

“He was asked to leave and started kicking over wheelie bins.”

Defence lawyer Quinton Muir confirmed that Forrest was still in a relationship with the singer.

“She is concerned for his welfare,” he said.

On the earlier relationship, Mr Muir said Forrest’s professions of love were ‘ potentially flattering’.

But he conceded there was far too many of them.

Mr Muir said Forrest had cut back on his drinking, which had become a problem for him.

The court heard that Forrest had a conviction for domestic assault back in 2008.

Sheriff Montgomery ordered a medical report on Forrest, to assess his fitness for unpaid work.

That may indicate the sheriff is prepared to give Forrest, of New Road, Ayr, a non- custodial sentence when he returns to court next month.

He called her a f**** ing scumbag and f**** ing pyscho. He was asked to leave and started kicking over wheelie bins Laurin Campbell

Forrest had caused upset at one of her gigs in Ayr’s Black Bull