Man menaced girlfriend with 400 calls – even after he was locked up

A man bombarded his girlfriend with more than 400 calls to try to convince her to lie to save him from jail.

Adam Stewart, 30, bullied the woman for months. After his arrest he continued to plague her with menacing calls, which continued after he was locked up.

Depute fiscal Lisa Marshall told Dundee Sheriff Court: “They had been in an on-off relationship for 13 years which she ended in March 2019.

“During that relationship he was convicted on five occasions for criminal behaviour against her.

“She decided to end the relationship.”

The woman moved in secret to a new flat arranged by Women’s Aid, but Stewart quickly tracked her down and subjected her to constant abuse.

“He turned up unannounced and was emotionally blackmailing her,” said Ms Marshall.

“On at least two occasions he spat in her face or on his hand and then rubbed the mucous in her face and hair.

“From the date of his remand he repeatedly contacted her by phone and letter. From January 24 to June 30 he contacted her 417 times.

“She said she did not want to answer the calls but felt she had to. He instructed her to tell the police she could not remember anything.

“He told her that a male he knew from prison would be keeping an eye on her. He told her he loved her and continuously asked if he could live with her.”

Stewart admitted engaging in a course of abusive behaviour in Arbroath between April 1 and August 7 2019.

He admitted spitting on his hand and rubbing it on to her head. He admitted trying to pervert the course of justice by contacting her on 417 occasions between January 24 and June 30 and urging her to tell police she could not remember his previous behaviour.

S te wart, c/o Perth Prison, also admitted two charges of breaching bail by contacting her, including from behind bars while he was being held on remand.

Sheriff Jillian Martin-Brown deferred sentence for background reports and Stewart was remanded in custody.

On... two occasions he spat in her face