Woman ordered to stay away from ex

A Scone woman repeatedly pestered her ex-partner despite a bail order being in force banning her from contacting him.

Now a 12-month NonHarassment Order has been imposed on 29-year-old Mhairi McRitchie, of Catmoor Avenue, to keep her away.

She will also have to complete 90 hours of unpaid work over the next 12 months and will be supervised by a social worker during that time after she kicked a police officer.

She admitted the assault on PC Amy Straiton in Perth’s South Street on March 30, 2021, after attending uninvited at Donald Stewart’s flat there.

Perth Sheriff Court was told she rang the bell, knocked on the door and shouted, demanding entry, before forcing open the door.

She also flouted an April 9, 2021, bail order prohibiting her from entering South Street or going near his flat.

Depute fiscal David Currie said on one of the occasions the accused was asleep in his flat about 3am when he was wakened by knocking on the door.

He heard a female’s voice which he recognised as the accused.

“He tried to ignore it but she continued to chap on the door for around 30 minutes.”

He contacted the police and while officers spoke to him, he got a call on his mobile from the accused.

On another occasion, after she forced open the door of his flat, she was being put into the back of a police vehicle when she kicked PC Straiton. There was no injury.

Solicitor John McLaughlin said:“She’s had a very difficult time from a very early age, which perhaps has shaped her view on life and her reliance on alcohol.

“She’s now in a much better place to deal with alcohol consumption and she’s trying to turn her life around.”

Imposing the community payback order as an alternative to jail, Sheriff Neil Bowie told her:“The accumulation of these complaints demonstrates a non-acceptance on your part that this relationship is at an end.”

McRitchie will attend the OffendingWomen’s Learning Service (OWLS) programme as part of her supervision.