Man accused ex of being ‘puppy killer’ in series of abusive texts

COURT: Taunts came after heated row between pair on Perth petrol station forecourt

A man dubbed his ex-girlfriend Cruella de Vil and accused her of killing a puppy in a row sparked on a petrol station forecourt.

Paul Wells made the taunts in cruel text messages sent minutes after Kirsteen Glass had driven off to escape his anger.

Perth Sheriff Court heard the pair had begun arguing after Wells attempted to put the wrong fuel into Ms Glass’s car at a Perth petrol station.

Depute fiscal Bill Kermode told the court that Wells and Ms Glass had been in an on-off relationship for around 20 years.

He said: “The accused contacted the complainer and asked to meet at Broxden, to which the complainer agreed.

“At 6pm the complainer picked up the accused and stated she needed to go and get fuel. She drove on to the forecourt and the accused got out to fill up.

“The accused struggled to get the nozzle into the car. The complainer got out and told him he was using the wrong fuel and took the nozzle off him.”

Mr Kermode said an argument had ensued and Wells had removed his belongings from the boot of the car, at which point Ms Glass drove off.

However, as she stopped at a nearby set of traffic lights, Wells walked up and kicked her car door.

Ms Glass was able to drive off again but stopped further up Crieff Road to check the damage.

At that point she realised she had been sent a number of cruel and abusive texts from Wells, one of which stated “Want to know what people are calling you? Cruella de Vil” and others branding her a “puppy killer” and a “psycho dog-killing junkie”.

Solicitor Billy Somerville, defending, said Wells had had problems with alcohol but there was a 20-year gap in offending.

Wells, of Breadalbane Terrace, Aberfeldy, admitted behaving in a threatening and abusive manner towards Ms Glass at the Tesco petrol station on Crieff Road, and on Crieff Road, Perth, on October 31 last year.

Sheriff Gillian Wade ordered him to carry out 135 hours of unpaid work and imposed a nine-month supervision order.

The complainer got out and told him he was using the wrong fuel and took the nozzle off him. BILL KERMODE, DEPUTE FISCAL