Missing Shaun’s mumto get care for PTSD

The mother of a missing Fraserburgh man will be given support to help overcome the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Carol Roy was handed the lifeline at Peterhead Sheriff Court yesterday after she admitted to lying to police officers twice about receiving threatening messages in the wake of her 20-yearold son’s disappearance.

Shaun Ritchie has not been seen since a Halloween night out three years ago. His mum later posed as a stranger to send threats of violence to her own sister and to a family friend.

Yesterday, the court heard for the first time that Roy, who is receiving out-patient psychiatric treatment, is suffering

“Appropriate sentencing would enable court to help”

from mental health problems which may have contributed to her actions.

Sheriff Kevin Drummond said that his interpretation of a psychiatric evaluation on Roy suggested that she had a “borderline personality disorder” and met the criteria for having posttraumatic stress disorder.

He added that the “appropriate” sentencing option would enable the court to help.

“At the time of these offences, she is likely to have been suffering from these specific mental disorders,” he said. “The opinion (of the reporter) is expressed that it would not be helpful for treatment to be given on any basis but voluntarily.”

Roy, whose address was given as Fraserburgh’s Dennyduff Road, will be subject to a supervision order for 12 months, during which she must undertake any counselling. Her solicitor also revealed that she was looking to move out of her home to be away from reminders of Mr Ritchie.