Man broke lockdown to visit his girlfriend
A boyfriend broke both lockdown and bail conditions to visit his girlfriend, despite being warned by police.
Stuart Hamilton, 37, flouted the government’s health advice during the coronavirus pandemic, by repeatedly leaving his home in Seedhill and travelling to his partner Danielle Johnstone’s house in Gallowhill.
Paisley Sheriff Court heard Mr Hamilton first flouted the safety advice on April 17 this year when police stopped him in the street and asked him to return to his house in McKerrell Street. He refused and was later arrested. Hamilton, who appeared from custody at the hearing before Sheriff Lindsey Kooner, was later caught visiting his partner on April 22 this year at Gallowhill Road, despite there being a bail order banning him from contacting or approaching her.
He was also collared for failing to adhere to Covid-19 public health restrictions preventing all but essential journeys.
On Monday Hamilton pleaded guilty to a charge of breaking coronavirus restrictions and failing to return to his home after being instructed to by police.
He also admitted entering his girlfriend’s property in breach of special conditions of bail preventing him from contacting her or approaching her.
Defence agent David Nicholson said his client was admitting responsibility for the offences, but urged the court to take into account the background where Mr Hamilton had been urged to go there by his girlfriend to help her.
He said:“He accepts his culpability for these matters.
“The complainer in this matter was in a relationship with him and wishes to continue to be in a relationship with him and she contacted him asking him to stay with her.
“The complainer has a background where she has struggled with alcohol and medication issues, and during the current lockdown situation, she has asked him to assist her.
“He recognises that he is in breach of a court order, but there was a significant emotional pull given the relationship between the parties.”
The court heard a neighbour of Mr Hamilton’s had also engaged in“a campaign against him,”regularly threatening to assault him.
Mr Nicholson added:“Both parties had taken the view it is safer for him to go to his girlfriend’s address.”
He urged the court to hand his client bail.
However, Sheriff Kooner said the court was refusing the request for bail and remanded Mr Hamilton in custody to await the outcome of other matters.