English found guilty of terrorising ex and her daughter Former wrestler told to be of good behaviour
A two-time Commonwealth Games medalist left his former partner’s daughter “terrified” when he turned up at their home.
Graeme English, who was looking for a reconciliation after 10 years, upset his ex so much that she broke down in tears at work the next day.
Wrestler English, of Dunblane Drive, East Kilbride, won bronze medals for Scotland at the 1986 and 1994 Commonwealth Games.
The 55-year-old, who competed for Britain at the Olympics in 1988, was convicted of threatening or abusive behaviour at a home in the town’s Dunbar Place.
It included making a “wholly inappropriate” comment to his former partner’s 24-year-old daughter.
Hamilton Sheriff Court heard the couple had a three-year relationship, but split around 10 years ago – that included his victim having a court order banning English from going near her home.
Court heard how the daughter was alone in the house one afternoon in December 2018 when English arrived.
He was looking for her mum and walked into the living room where he sat on a sofa.
The victim, who gave evidence by video link, told the court: “I was scared and anxious because I hadn’t seen him for years.
“I froze. I was terrified. He said I was looking grown up.
“He asked if I remembered us sharing a kiss during a caravan holiday which I thought was inappropriate.”
His former partner then returned home to find English with her daughter who appeared to be distressed.
Giving evidence from behind a screen, she told how she had bumped into him just once since they split.
She stated: “He said he wanted to take me out and for us to get back together.
“I felt sick when he said that. I told him it was never going to happen.
“I asked him to leave a couple of times and when he did he said he would be back.
“That comment made me frightened because I’m scared of him. “I broke down at work the next day.” English claimed he went to the house to see if his ex was all right after hearing another relationship had ended, and that the daughter had asked him into the house.
He denied saying anything inappropriate and also claimed he had seen and talked to his ex and her daughter on several occasions since the split.
But Sheriff Mhairi Mactaggart found English guilty of the charge.
She told him: “I have formed the view that the witnesses are credible and reliable, that you attended this house uninvited and while there made a wholly inappropriate comment to the younger victim.”
The court heard English has a previous conviction for threatening or abusive behaviour. He also has two convictions for drink-driving.
Sheriff Mactaggart deferred sentence for six months for good behaviour, telling him: “I would like the situation to calm down and for you to demonstrate this was a one-off which won’t be repeated.”