SCALES OF JUSTICE Teenager warned after threatening step-mum
A TEENAGER who sent vile messages to his dad’s new partner was told by a sheriff he must “move forward”.
Connor Macfarlane reacted to the breakdown of his parents’ relationship by abusing his dad and his new girlfriend.
Over the course of a few days, the 19-year-old used private messaging on Facebook to attempt to frighten the couple.
Glasgow Sheriff Court heard Macfarlane, from Cumbernauld, was drinking heavily and extremely upset by his father leaving the family home.
The teen retaliated by sending his dad messages that were meant for his new partner.
He wrote: “Your days are numbered. You’re getting battered, that’s a promise not a threat.”
In another message he told his dad’s girlfriend to “write her will”.
He also said, during the spate of messaging between November 2, 2015 and November 6, 2015, : “I’ll make you bleed more than you’ve ever bled before.”
And in another disturbing message he sent: “You’ll have so many holes in you when the police find you they’ll think you’re a Tetley teabag.”
At first, Macfarlane’s dad, Colin Goodall, ignored the missives but as they became increasingly violent, Mr Goodall went to the police.
The court was told there were problems with contact between Mr Goodall, who has since married his new partner, and Macfarlane and his two younger sisters.
Macfarlane’s defence lawyer told the court that the teenager wanted his step-mother “to be scared”.
He added: “It’s very sad all round. He now has no contact with his father.
“He has gone to get some support regarding mental health issues.”
The defence brief also said Macfarlane, who lives at home with his mother and sisters, “Keeps himself active and is a member of a gym.”
Macfarlane had previously been sentenced to a Community Payback Order of 80 hours unpaid work after being found in possession of a knuckleduster.
Sheriff Lindsay Wood told Macfarlane to stand and asked him: “How are you? Are you ok now?”
The defendant replied that he was fine and the Sheriff asked: “Are you still struggling with this?,” adding that the separation of parents
He then asked the teenager how his mother is getting on and if he was supporting his mother and supporting his two younger sisters.
Sheriff Wood added: “You cannot do any more of this because you will end up in court and you will get a criminal record.”
Macfarlane was sentenced to a Community Payback Order to last for 12 months, supervised by social work. A DRIVER was sentenced to 90 hours of unpaid work after a string of driving offences.
Anthony Silvestro drove his newly-purchased blue Jaguar X Type “carelessly” and “erratically” along Letherby Drive and CarmuHe was also given 80 hours of nock Road, colliding with another unpaid work. r.ca
Sheriff Wood told Macfarlane He then sped from the scene on that his sentence was designed the opposite side of the road. to punish him but also to give When caught by police later that him support to change his day, March 20, last year, the behaviour. 22-year-old trainee mechanic was
He added: “An element of found to be too drunk to caution this is punishment but it is and charge also to support you and give you Silvestro, from Rutherlgen, also someone to talk to about these did not have insurance for his issues. vehicle.
“Social work will try to keep you His defence brief said he was right. “absolutely ashamed of his
“You need to move forward, as behaviour”. difficult as that can be. As well as unpaid work, he was
“And you must keep off the fined £200 and given eight penalty drink.” points.