Poison pen letter son freed after serving his time in prison
A warped son who terrorised his own mother has been freed by a court because of time served.
Joseph Carson, 63, wrote poison pen letters to his Erskine mum Jane Carson, 84, her companion Ronald Moreland, and even broke a court order preventing him from contacting her.
Carson was handed eight months in jail after being convicted of contempt of court at Paisley Sheriff.
However, he was let out of HMP Low Moss immediately because he had been remanded there since
February, equivalent to his serving an eight month stretch.
Defence agent Amy Spencer told how Carson’s trial before a jury at Paisley Sheriff in February had to be halted because he refused to take his seat in the dock amid claims the court was in breach of Covid-19 regulations.
She said: “His position is that his lawyer was not wearing a mask.
“He believed covid regulations had been breached because of the removal of the mask.
“And he felt it was unsafe to return to court.”
She added: “The proceedings couldn’t continue at that point because of his absence.
“Regretably, the ladies and gentlemen of the jury had to be dismissed and another jury empanelled.
“The trial that followed was conducted in his absence. And, due to different reasons, he did not wish to remain in court.”
Carson, of Machrihanish, Argyll and Bute, denied any wrongdoing, claiming there was a plot to murder his mum.
Sheriff James Spy told Carson he was finding him guilty of contempt of court.
He said: “Having regard to the circumstances, I will impose an eight month sentence which will be back dated to February.
“That, in effect, means you will be released from prison today.
“All matters are at an end and I hope you that you can put everything behind you and move on.”
He was found guilty at the trial of breaking a court ban on contacting his mum by posting her a 84th birthday card.
When he posted the card he was already subject to a NonHarassment Order (NHO).
It was imposed after he inundated Mrs Carson and Mr
Moreland with poison pen letters.
He had also targeted his adoptive sister Gayle McMillan and her husband Alan in Renfrew, as well as putting up posters claiming they were criminals.
Carson was sentenced to 20 months for these crimes, but, again, due to his time spent on remand, he was freed following yesterday’s case.
Last week, he was handed a lifelong ban from approaching or contacting his mum and Mr Moreland.
He was also banned for life from entering the towns of Renfrew and Erskine. to have grown up without requiring any support from charities or third parties.
“My wife’s gran Mary McKee has not been so lucky. She has directly lost her father, two brothers, uncle, nephew and various cousins through MND.
“In total, 12 members of Mary’s family line have been diagnosed with various illnesses which would be categorised under the umbrella of MND and for 30 years she organised the Cumbrae cycle which has raised several hundred thousand pounds for MND.”
In honour of Mary, Greg will “fittingly” finish his task with an 11 mile cycle round Cumbrae.
Greg said: “Any money will be taken with extreme gratitude and I am doing this over a two year period.
“I am encouraging people to either wait until I am finished them all or pay a little after each event.”
Back Greg’s mission via https:// www. justgiving. com/fundraising/ walk500milesformnd
All matters are at an end and I hope that you can put everything behind you and move on