Bullets found at home of hate campaign ex-soldier
Police swooped on former Para who bombarded child welfare social workers with abuse
A FORMER Para who launched a hate campaign against social workers following a bitter split from his hero cop wife was caught with live bullets at his home.
Afghanistan veteran Gareth Nicholas, 36, lost the plot with Donna Muir and Lynzi Freemantle over contact with a nine-year-old child.
He had previously separated from PC Carrie Ann McNab, who once saved a teenager’s life while on duty.
Former Welsh Guard Nicholas bombarded the two East Renfrewshire Council social workers with vile emails and texts.
He also made veiled threats involving a primary school in Barrhead and posted a torrent of abuse involving his ex’s friend Julie Given.
When he was arrested, police found the 5.56mm bullets at his home at the town’s Glasgow Road.
Nicholas pleaded guilty via video link this week to threatening and abusive behaviour likely to cause fear and alarm to the social workers.
He also admitted posting offensive remarks on social media about Donna between September 1, 2019, and July 14 this year and posting offensive comments about Carrie Ann’s friend between January 22 and July 20 this year.
Nicholas, who was previously handed a three-year non-harassment order for hounding his ex-partner, also admitted being in possession of 5.56mm live ammunition.
He once staged a protest outside a school, attaching a banner to the fence and emailing a photo of it to the social work department.
Defence agent David Mitchell said his client spent eight years in the Welsh Guards and Parachute Regiment, serving with the “elite” Reconnaissance Brigade in Afghanistan.
Mitchell told Paisley Sheriff Court: “These problems stem from problems with his ex-partner, the relationship breakdown and subsequent divorce.
“He had been speaking to a lawyer but felt no progress was being made with the social work department and the matter was borne out of a sense of frustration.”
Sheriff Colin Pettigrew freed Nicholas on bail on condition he does not contact anyone involved in the case and adjourned sentencing until December 10.