Man ordered to stay away from ex-wife – and her burger van

A repeat domestic offender has been made the subject of a three-year non-harassment order and banned from going within 20m of his ex-wife’s Brechin burger van after being told by a sheriff he was lucky to avoid jail.

Stephen Dyer of Caledonian Road, Brechin, appeared from custody before Sheriff Derek Reekie at Forfar, having been behind bars since his December arrest for behaving in a threatening manner towards the woman.

Depute fiscal Jill Drummond said Dyer had appeared at the hatch of the fast food van around 10am on the morning of December 7 demanding food.

He was told to go away, but delivered a volley of abuse at the woman.

A week later, she was driving in Brechin when Dyer appeared behind her in his car and began flashing his lights for her to stop.

She kept going but the 42-year-old then appeared at the van again. The victim began filming him and he then left, following which the matter was reported to police.

Dyer admitted behaving in a threatening and abusive manner towards his ex between December 7 and 14 last year and breaching a previously imposed non-harassment order.

Sheriff Derek Reekie told Dyer: “You have a poor record for domestic offending and were remanded over two breaches of a non-harassment order.

“You can safely assume that if there is any breach of this, or allegations of a similar nature, you will find yourself going back to jail.”

Dyer was also ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work.