Man sent fake video of himself in hospital

38-year-old admits campaign of abuse against ex

A Perth man sent a phoney video of himself lying in a hospital bed as part of an eight-month campaign of abusive behaviour towards his partner.

Thirty-eight-year-old Graeme Thomson also asked her to collect his belongings from his home in Letham, knowing he would be there at the time.

In addition, the accused repeatedly threatened to harm himself if she did not return to his flat in Rannoch Road and continually bombarded her with telephone calls, texts and social media messages.

Thomson was described by his lawyer at

Perth Sheriff Court last week as “a man of substance” but said his record “didn’t make for happy reading”.

Sheriff Neil Bowie called for a report from the Caledonian Project, which helps men convicted of domestic abuse, and deferred sentence until August 4.

The accused had earlier admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner, likely to cause “fear or alarm,” at his home on January 18, 2021, by shouting and swearing and making violent threats.

He was subject to a July 27, 2020, bail order from the Perth court at the time.

A social inquiry report had been ordered and he was to have been sentenced last week.

But his solicitor said he was now pleading guilty to another domestic-related incident which had been due to go to trial in August.

He admitted that between December 1, 2019, and July 22, 2020, at his flat, he engaged in a course of behaviour which was abusive to his partner or ex-partner.

He “repeatedly and excessively” contacted her during that time by a range of electronic means, repeatedly asked her where she was and repeatedly threatened to self-harm.

He also seized her by her hand and pulled her towards his home.

He then sent the video purporting to show him in hospital in a bid to get her to visit his address while he was present.

As part of her eight-month ordeal, he sent emails to her employers, making a false allegation that she had taken part in “criminal conduct.”

Sheriff Bowie said the latest charge was “a significantly more serious matter” than the one which was already before the court.

He said that “the libel - and the length of it” - merited a report from the Caledonian Project, as well as an updated, supplementary Community Justice Social Work report.

“It would be in the public interest to get such a report,” Sheriff Bowie added. “He doesn’t appear before the court as someone who hasn’t been in court before.”

Thomson had his bail continued meantime.