CRIMINAL SUPERVISOR FACING PRISON AFTER STALKING WOMAN

● Offences spanned 3 years

A CRIMINAL justice worker from Greenock has been warned that he is facing jail after stalking his estranged wife for three years. Ross Beckett, 43, who supervises convicted offenders on unpaid work orders, could now face the same sentence, as an alternative to prison, after admitting his guilt.

A CRIMINAL justice worker from Greenock has been warned that he is facing jail after stalking his estranged wife for three years.

Ross Beckett, 43, who supervises convicted offenders on unpaid work orders, could now even face the same sentence, as an alternative to prison, after admitting his guilt.

From the breakdown of his marriage in March 2018 right up until September last year the community justice administrator bombarded his victim with abusive texts, calls and handwritten notes posted through her door.

He was caught on a CCTV system, linked to her phone, driving past the house on a number of occasions for no reason.

In other chilling incidents he appeared to be tracking the woman on nights out with friends, and called her to accuse her of being ‘with another man’.

Sheriff James Varney has now imposed a non-harassment order barring Beckett, of Regent Street, from contacting his former wife for five years.

He has also banned him from posting anything about her on social media platforms.

In a detailed case narration at Greenock Sheriff Court, fiscal depute Karen Yuill set out a number of the incidents.

She said: “It began on March 2018 when the witness was out with friends at various pubs in Kempock Street in Gourock, ending at Cleats Bar.

“At about 1am she received a call on her mobile from the accused saying ‘I can see you and you are with another man’.

“At this point the witness was alarmed and was sure he was watching her.

“The accused did not believe that she was with her friends and was very angry.

“The witness arranged to stay with a friend and decided not to go home.

“But at this point the relationship had irretrievably broken down and the accused remained in the family home, sleeping on the couch.

“They separated on September 10, 2018.”

The court heard this was followed by a series of incidents, with Beckett’s victim accused of child neglect and him telling her that her movements were being monitored.

Ms Yuill added: “From 10 to 19 August, 2019 there were up to 10 or 20 phone calls a day from the accused to the witness.

“On August 24 the witness had arranged a night in a friend’s house in Glasgow when she received a message from the accused saying he knew she was with another man and she was wearing a polka dot top.”

The court heard Mr Beckett then had exchanges with other members of the family, directing abuse towards them.

Ms Yuill added: “From January 1 2020 to 23 January there were 12 handwritten abusive notes posted through the door by the accused to the witness.”

On two other occasions including in January 2020 he was recorded on CCTV driving on the street for no apparent reason.

The court heard that his wife had tried to support Mr Beckett even during the breakdown of the marriage after he told her he had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

But then came a prolonged period of constant abuse.

Sheriff James Varney told defence lawyer Aidan Gallagher: “I am minded towards a custodial sentence.”

Sentence on Beckett has been deferred until November 30 for more information from his employers - Renfrewshire Council - about the consequences of an unpaid work order being imposed on him as a direct alternative to prison.

A non-harassment order was put in place for five years.

A spokesperson for Beckett’s employer, Renfrewshire Council, said: “We acknowledge the outcome of the court case.”