Threat to kill mum of his child

Drunken phone message

A Bannockburn man drunkenly sent the mother of his child a message saying he would“like to kill her” before trashing her house.

Grant Turnbull (26) was placed under supervision for a period of 18 months last week as punishment for the offence which happened on August 6.

Turnbull, whose address was given as The Brae, attended a wedding in the city in the hours before the alarming incidents took place.

Stirling Sheriff Court heard how the accused had been in an on-off relationship with the mother of his child for around five years – and all three were present at the wedding.

After the meal Turnbull said he was going home, and could take his daughter with him. However, her mother asked if, rather than taking the girl immediately, he could return to get her after she had seen the first dance.

Turnbull left but didn’t return to get his daughter at 8pm – the time they had agreed. After the girl’s mother phoned him it became apparent that he was in a pub and was heavily under the influence of alcohol.

She said she would be taking the girl and staying with her mother and father for the night.

At this point the accused made his way to the woman’s home and let himself in using a spare key. He began throwing items around the house – causing damage to a TV and photo frames.

The complainer later noticed that she had a series of threatening messages from Turnbull on her phone. One read ‘come near me and I’ll f ****** kill you’ while another said ‘OMG I would like to kill you’.

She said she was scared to return to the address in case Turnbull was there and contacted police as a result.

When officers arrived at the house they saw a number of broken items and the accused was found sleeping in a bed. He was detained and taken to a police office.

Defence solicitor Ken Dalling explained that the incident came about as a result of a breakdown in communications between the parties.

He said: “He is unhappy and upset with himself.

“I’m told the complainer was intending to make representations which were sympathetic to him to the court. There is a receipt for £300 which he provided as compensation for the damage.

“He is unfit to do unpaid work due to his drug rehabilitation. He has a good history of work which has been lost to him due to his addiction.”

Sheriff Wyllie Robertson told Turnbull: “I understand you’re willing to comply with a community payback order. I’ll impose supervision for a period of 18 months.

“If you do not comply custody will be considered.”