Russell case continues in his absence after he fails to provide doctor’s note

A MAN accused of a decade-long campaign of harassment against a headteacher sparked a dramatic ambulance dash from court.

Richard Russell was taken to hospital after complaining of chest pains during his long-running civil case at Glasgow Sheriff Court.

But yesterday, a sheriff said the case would go ahead without him as he had failed to provide a medical letter proving he was ill.

Geraldine McWilliams, 65, took Russell to court in June, saying he has been harassing her since she reported concerns about his children to social workers in 2006.

She said Russell was on “an obsessive quest to ruin her life” after they clashed when she was head at St Monica’s Primary in Pollok, Glasgow.

A previous court order designed to stop Russell contacting her was granted but proved ineffective.

Now Geraldine is seeking an order against Russell which would see him arrested if he breaches it.

The dad of three has been representing himself in the case, which has seen various adjournments.

Proceedings were halted again on Tuesday when Russell complained of feeling ill. He did not turn up at court yesterday, despite being told to attend unless he could provide a letter from his doctor.

Sheriff Aisha Anwar said: “Mr Russell complained of chest pains yesterday. An ambulance was sent and he was examined here. As a precautionary measure, he was taken to hospital.”

The sheriff said Russell had been discharged from hospital that afternoon and served with paperwork summoning him to court.

She added: “He has attended his GP but he has not provided him with a certificate.”

Geraldine’s lawyer Iain Crosbie made a motion for the case to progress in Russell’s absence, which Sheriff Anwar granted in the “interests of justice”.

In his closing remarks, Mr Crosbie said: “The defender’s conduct during these proceedings evidences a severe lack of respect for the court.”

Sheriff Anwar will deliver her judgment in October.