Scream of terror before woman raced from flat

Aterrified woman ran from a Perth block of flats in just pink pyjamas and socks after neighbours reported hearing a “bloodcurdling scream.”

A witness saw Nicole Chalmers being chased by her boyfriend Peter Alexander.

Alexander, 22, narrowly avoided being sent to prison when he appeared at Perth Sheriff Court and admitted acting in a threatening or abusive manner towards Ms Chalmers at Kirkgate Mews on October 24.

He also admitted breaking a bail condition not to approach his partner, when he visited her flat on November 25.

Procurator fiscal depute Sarah Wilkinson said: “At the time of the first offence, the accused and the complainer had been in a relationship for about six months.”

At about 12.45pm on October 24, witnesses heard a man shouting from inside the city centre property.

They looked up to see Alexander and Ms Chalmers standing at a window.

“They watched in fear as the accused aggressively screamed at Ms Chalmers,” the fiscal depute told the court. “He then punched the window a number of times, causing damage.

“The accused then continued to scream at Ms Chalmers, before disappearing out of view.”

Ms Wilkinson said police were contacted. Alexander was cautioned and charged then released on bail but ordered to stay away from Ms Chalmers.

Ms Wilkinson said Ms Chalmers was at her flat when Alexander arrived about a month later.

“She had made arrangements to meet the accused, on the understanding that bail conditions had been dropped,” she said. “But this was not the case.”

An argument ensued between the two.

“Ms Chalmers said the argument began because she was not dressed to go out with the accused,” said Ms Wilkinson.

A neighbour then heard “a blood-curdling scream”.

“She dialled 999 and asked for police assistance,” the fiscal depute said.

“During the argument, Ms Chalmers ran into the street to get away from the accused.

“Ms Chalmers was observed running away from the block of flats, with the accused chasing her.

“He was saying: ‘She’s crazy, she’s over-reacting’.”

Ms Wilkinson said: “Ms Chalmers was seen wearing pink pyjamas and socks.

“The accused fled the location but he was traced sometime later behind a sofa within Ms Chalmer’s living room.”

He told police he thought his bail conditions had been lifted.

Solicitor Pauline Cullerton confirmed there was a bail review on November 5 but Alexander’s application was refused.

The court heard Alexander, of Green Road, Balbeggie, is about to begin work as a hygiene technician for a local firm.

However, his occasional nightshift work meant the court had difficulty imposing a restriction of liberty order, which would force him to stay at home between 7pm and 7am.

When Ms Cullerton suggested her client could pay a fine, Sheriff Gillian Wade replied: “These offences are more serious than that. A fine is not going to address the level of offending here.

“I’m not really left with an alternative to custody.”

The sheriff imposed a more flexible restriction of liberty order, meaning he will stay at home between 8am to 5pm when he works nights.

She told Alexander: “You can see that you are running out of options.

“You are now in a very dangerous position because any breach of an order will undoubtedly lead to a prison sentence.”

Sentenced was deferred on the bail breach charge for three months, to give Alexander the chance to prove he can stay out of trouble.

SHERIFF’S WARNING: Peter Alexander was told he risks going to jail if he steps out of line again.