Man accused of sending poison pen letters He wanted mum’s partner to disappear

A man accused of waging a poison pen campaign against his mother’s ex- boyfriend insisted he wanted to put the “fear of God into him”.

Joseph Carson, 58, is charged with sending threatening letters to neighbours of mum Janet, 80, and former partner Ronald Moreland, 77, calling him a “sleaze” and a “worthless piece of dog poo”.

It is claimed he also wrote messages to her church, two police stations and even the sheriff overseeing his trial.

Appearing at Paisley Sheriff Court, Carson did not deny he sent the scribblings but said they were not intended to cause fear or alarm.

Fiscal depute Maureen McGovern quizzed Carson on whether he felt remorse for leaving Mr Moreland too “terrified” to leave his house. He replied: “That’s his problem. “He must have been scared because he’s caused all this damage.

“He’s humiliated you in court in front of all your work colleagues.

“I would rather put the fear of God into him because God would have more grace for him than I would. “I wanted him to disappear.” Carson claims the letters were warnings about an “evil monster”.

The court earlier heard letters began appearing at almost half-adozen addresses near his mum’s home in Erskine.

The minister of Erskine Parish Church also received a note, as did Renfrew and Johnstone police offices and Sheriff Seith Ireland.

They began in 2014 after Mrs Carson and Mr Moreland had begun a relationship.

Mr Moreland divided his time between his new partner’s house and his place in Clarkston, East Renfrewshire.

He earlier told how he suffered “anxiety” after the letters started appearing.

Carson insisted the letters were intended to “make him go away” and admitted he sent a text message stating he was “coming to get him”.

But when asked to clarify what he meant, he suggested it might mean he was heading over to “take him for a pint”.

Ms McGovern maintained “money is at the root of it all”, but Carson replied: “Absolute rubbish.”

The court earlier heard Ms Carson and Mr Moreland’s three- year relationship had fallen apart after the letters began appearing between November 20, 2014, and January 29, the next year.

She told how she was “wary of answering the door” and was worried her son would hurt her.

Sheriff Seith Ireland revealed how he had received two notes in envelopes but handed them to his clerk when he read Carson’s name at the top.

The accused asked if he had read them as the trial was adjourned.

Carson, of Campbeltown, Argyll and Bute, has been ordered to return to court on April 12.

The trial continues.