Vengeful ex admits he waged hate campaign

Embittered George Stewart admitted his guilt when he appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court last week.

He pled guilty to engaging in a course of abusive behaviour on April 13 and 14, with the court hearing he wanted to “ruin” his ex-partner.

Court heard how the 58-year-old warned his ex he had contacted the East Kilbride News about her alleged professional misconduct.

Fiscal depute Chloe O’Hara,told the court: “He said she had been drunk in a video on Facebook.

“He claimed to have contacted the News, saying she was drunk in the classroom where she was employed as a primary school teacher.

“Stewart said he would contact the school, as well as her friends, regarding this allegation.”

Ms O’Hara told court how his victim phoned the accused in an effort to “calm the situation,” at which point he repeated his claims, telling her: “I want to ruin you.

“You’ll have no job, house or income.” Stewart, of Ferniegair,

Hamilton, demanded a meeting with his former partner at her home.

He turned up there when she and her new partner were inside, but she refused to answer the door “through fear”.

Stewart was twice challenged by a neighbour about what he was doing there, texting his victim “I’m here, waiting” before finally driving away.

The next morning she texted Stewart, telling him not to contact her. He replied by saying she had “brought this on yourself by treating me like sh*t.

“I hope one day you’re found hanging like your mad mother. I hope I never see you again.”

The fiscal stated: “His ex-partner was extremely upset, especially by the remark about her mother as the accused was aware of the impact on her of her mother’s suicide.

“She then contacted the police.” Sheriff Ray Small deferred sentence until August 21 for a criminal justice social work report, bailing Stewart and warning him: “You must have no contact – face to face, electronic, whatever – with your former partner.”