Jealous Kirrie man narrowly avoids jail

COURT: Phone message suspicions sounded death knell for couple’s four year on/off relationship

A Kirriemuir man has avoided jail for the bust up which signalled the “death knell” of his four-year on/off relationship with his girlfriend.

Sam Wilkie must complete 200 hours of unpaid work in the next six months after the 29-year-old admitted behaving in a threatening manner towards the woman at a house in Kirrie’s Knowehead Crescent on October 13 last year and assaulting her by pushing her to the ground.

Depute fiscal Matthew Kerr told Forfar Sheriff Court the couple had spent the night of October 12 together without any problems.

Around 5.30am the following morning, the woman woke, came back to the bedroom and found the accused going through her mobile phone.

“She tried to explain messages on her phone meant nothing but the he became angry, grabbing a candle and throwing it against a wall,” the fiscal added.

“He then calmed down and apologised for his behaviour.”

The court heard the pair then spent the rest of the day and evening together without incident but the following day the argument flared up again when Wilkie looked at the complainer’s phone again. They ended up outside and it was at that point Wilkie took the woman to the ground.

Defence solicitor Nick Markowski said: “He is a single man and has asked me to apologise to the complainer – she is his ex-partner now. This was, in effect, the death knell for the relationship.

“It was on/off and unfortunately jealousy on the part of both of them seemed to be an issue. Regrettably jealousy got the better of Mr Wilkie on that day.

“His record is a mixed bag and he can sometimes go one or two years without offending.”

Wilkie, of Marywell Gardens in Kirriemuir, also admitted breaching bail by sending the woman a Whatsapp message saying: “I know I’m going to get a remand for contacting you but I want you to know I love you.”

Sheriff Gregor Murray told Wilkie: “The primary thing I am mulling over is whether or not it is better to jail you now and get this over and done with, or whether I ask for your co-operation to undertake a very significant amount of work.”

He said it was with “suitable reluctance” that Wilkie would be given a community-based disposal.

The accused will be under supervision for two years, during which time he will complete the Fergus programme for domestic offenders.

The sheriff added: “You are going to appear in front of me every three months and I expect to see your complete co-operation over the next two years.

“If you reoffend in relation to the complainer or any other person, you know what is going to happen.”

I am mulling overwhether or not it is better to jail you now or ask for your co-operation to undertake a significant amount of work. SHERIFF GREGOR MURRAY