JILTED EX WRECKS GARDEN IN DIGGER RAMPAGE
Dumped JCB driver flew into fury after girlfriend told him it was over
A DIGGER driver went on the rampage in his girlfriend’s garden after she ended their relationship, a court heard yesterday.
Alisdair McKinnon swung his JCB’s arm towards a bay window of Diane McCune’s home.
But he stopped short of damaging the building and went on to trash the garden instead.
Mum-of-four Diane and her 21-yearold son were inside the house as he used the JCB to smash large plant pots and kerb stones, before digging up soil and scattering it around the garden.
Diane, 50, had told McKinnon, 33, their fouryear relationship was over on Thursday afternoon and ordered him to leave the house.
After his rampage was over, she reported his actions to police.
He was tracked down to an address in Beith, Ayrshire, the following day and was held for three nights in police custody in Saltcoats.
Yesterday, he appeared from custody at Paisley Sheriff Court.
McKinnon pled guilty to two charges over the incident.
He admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by driving his JCB towards Diane’s house with the digger arm raised, placing her and son Corrie McCune in a state of fear or alarm.
He also admitted wilfully or recklessly damaging Diane’s property by driving the digger on to the premises and using it on the garden.
Charges that he repeatedly texted Diane against her will and attended her house uninvited were dropped.
The court was told the former couple shared the house in Paisley during their on-off relationship.
Defence solicitor Amy Spencer told Sheriff James Spy: “His former partner is 17 years older than he is and has four children – they have no children together.
“There were difficulties in the relationship which caused Mr McKinnon to reside at his family home.
“I understand that, since this incident, he has been in contact with her.
“He has been placing his work commitments before his partner and realises he needs to rethink that. ”
Adjourning the case, Sheriff Spy said he wanted to have background reports prepared because of the serious nature of the incident.
He said: “I’m going to release you on bail with the special condition that you don’t approach or contact her – if you breach that you’ll end up in jail.
“You must cooperate with the social work department in the preparation of reports.”
McKinnon faces the threat of a 12-month jail term when he returns to the dock next month to learn his fate.
Diane refused to discuss the case when approached at her home.