Victim targeted twice

A sheriff has called for background reports on a thug after his second appearance in the dock for domestic abuse offences involving the same victim.

Sheriff Seith Ireland said he was concerned that a pattern might be emerging and wanted to have any underlying issues addressed before it is too late.

Darren Crawford admitted shouting, swearing and acting aggressively while making telephone calls to expartner Holly Colquhoun and her male friend.

Paisley Sheriff Court was told that she became alarmed by how the 29-year-old was acting in the town’s High Street, on November 22.

In court, Crawford, of Dalskeith Road, Paisley, admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner likely to cause fear and alarm to others.

Defence agent Jonathan Manson said he was confident there would be no repetition as the underlying issues that had caused his client to act in the manner described had now been resolved.

Sheriff Seith Ireland said, however, that he was concerned to note a similar matter on the Crawford’s record that he was already on deferred sentence for.

“This is the second incident of a similar nature involving the same complainer,” he said, calling for full background reports and ordering Crawford to return to court on February 20.