Yob pays the price for sending vile phone messages

Fined for making abusive calls to ex-partner

A foul-mouthed yob who left vile and abusive messages on his ex-partner’s phone has been slated by a sheriff.

Billy Kelly, 42, lost the plot with ex- lover Ann Kelly in a dispute over contact with her children, and turned the air blue with offensive comments he left on her voicemail.

Paisley Sheriff Court heard this week that the yob, of Mains Drive, in Erskine, had previously been in a relationship with mum-of-two Ms Kelly, of Knockhill Road, Renfrew, when things got out of hand in March this year.

Fiscal depute Margaret McCallum told the court: “The accused and the complainer had been in a relationship for 10 years and he had been her ex-partner for four years.

“The complainer has two children from a previous relationship and the accused had got to know them as a ‘father.’

“Their relationship ended in February 2016, and they began contact again in January 2017, where the accused would attend the locus to see the children.

“And he would maintain contact with the children via their mobile phones.”

The court heard the relationship soured in March over a sudden change in arrangements involving the children, where the accused was overheard calling Ms Kelly a “cow” on a voicemail message.

He was also heard warning her not to go near his home.

The complainer made no reply to these messages.

The fiscal added: “On March 8, the complainer got a voicemail from the accused referring to her as a ‘tart’ and a ‘f****** cow.’

“She was frightened by this and contacted police. Police attended and noted details.

“On March 10, the complainer received voicemails – one after the other – in the following terms; ‘stupid bitch,’ ‘ginger sl**bag,’ and ‘ginger cow,’ and she contacted police again.”

Kelly pleaded guilty to causing Ms Kelly fear and alarm and his defence agent Kevin Brady said: “My client has reflected on his upsetting comments and he is deeply ashamed that he had made them.

“He understands the complainer was displeased at him but he felt the children were being used as a weapon against him following the breakdown of their relationship.”

The lawyer said the accused would have to consult a lawyer and go through the courts to arrange contact with the children in future.

Sheriff Craig Harris told the accused: “You know you cannot make these kind of calls and say these kind of things and you realise that.

“You know that instructing a solicitor to regulate matters through the courts is the appropriate channel in these circumstances.”

He fined Kelly £ 270, reduced from £350, because of his plea of guilty.