Ex-soldier hounded fellow pizza worker after she left town without telling him

An army veteran stalked a colleague he looked upon like a daughter after she moved to England without telling him.

Iain McPhail, 66, was said to have been like a father to Gemma Stitt, after they met while working at a Domino’s pizza branch in Erskine.

But Paisley Sheriff Court was told that Miss Stitt moved back to England without telling him which McPhail claimed triggered Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) he suffers from after serving with the British Army.

He then hounded the young woman over an eight- month period, leading to him being charged with, and pleading guilty to, a stalking offence.

McPhail, 66, admitted his guilt previously and returned to the dock at Paisley Sheriff Court this week to be sentenced.

McPhail, formerly of Bolerno Circle, Bishopton, and now of Finlaystone Road, Kilmacolm, began abusing Miss Stitt in May 2017 until December that year, causing her fear and alarm.

He inundated her with phone calls and text messages, sent her a book on how to survive trauma, sent her sweets and a handwritten letter and posted messages on her social media accounts.

Defence solicitor Rhona Lynch said her client’s actions were driven by his condition.

The lawyer explained: “She referred to Mr McPhail and his wife as her ‘Scottish mum and dad’.

“He has always had a good work employment history and worked at the Faslane Naval Base after leaving the army.

“He worked with Miss Stitt in his part time job at Domino’s in Erskine, where he met the complainer and her flatmates.

“Her mother came up to Scotland following a break- in at her flat and she put two and two together and came up with five.

“Miss St i t t ’ s mother got it into her head it was an inappropriate relationship and persuaded her daughter to move back down south with her.

“The plan was she was just going to do a disappearing act and wasn’t going to contact Mr McPhail or his partner.”

She said McPhail and his partner had helped “practically, emotionally, and financially” by helping her buy bedding and other items for her flat and that her departure “left a number of unanswered questions.”

She added: “He couldn’t understand why this girl, that he and his partner had helped so much, was leaving so quickly, w ithout an explanation.

“There was a deterioration in his mental health and he began ruminating over the months and, against that background, these actions happened.

“There is no question he reacted badly.

“He is fiercely loyal.”

She said he was “damaged” following his service with the army in Northern Ireland and said that, as a result, he should not be punished for his crimes.

She explained: “I submit it would be inappropriate to punish Mr McPhail in the same way as someone who doesn’t have his condition.

“This is a very unusual and exceptional case.”

McPhail was admonished by Sheriff Tom McCartney and handed a two- year nonharassment order.