Man charged with terrorising his ex walks free from court

Jurors find harassment allegations are not proven

A man accused of terrorising a Renfrewshire nurse has dramatically walked free from court after a seven-day trial.

A jury found three charges against Gordon Cameron Bell, 53, were not proven after hearing evidence at Paisley Sheriff Court.

Mr Bell was originally accused of harassing, threatening and repeatedly following his exfiancée Sharon McKeane, 44, of Johnstone, in a campaign of intimidation lasting 15 months.

However, the jury of nine women and six men chose not to convict him of the allegations, but they did not completely exonerate him of the charges either.

The trial heard that Mr Bell, from Kilmarnock, had sneaked into her house when she was sleeping, had followed her on holiday to Turkey and even accused her of giving him a sexually transmitted disease.

The proceedings heard he also chased after her when the mum-of-one was jogging in the town’s Ludovic Square, where he caught up with her and allegedly “choked” her.

Ms McKeane told the court: “As I ran past the alcove, he jumped out in front of me. He blocked the path. I told him to leave me alone.

“He chased after me. It was ridiculous.

“He was chasing me when I was out running.

“His hands were round my neck. It lasted a few seconds. He started crying and then said he was sorry.

“When someone puts their hands round my neck, they are making an attempt to harm you.”

Defence agent Gordon Ritchie challenged the witness, accusing her of exaggerating her claims, adding: “You made the comment as if it were someone was trying to kill you. That’s hardly an attempt to kill you.”

The trial heard the accused also trailed her to the pub when she was celebrating a Christmas night out in Glasgow with her Paisley pal Charlene Cameron, 34, from Foxbar.

The jury heard that Bell emptied a tumbler of water over Ms McKeane’s face because he believed she had been out with other men.

Ms McKeane fled the One Up bar in the city’s Royal Exchange Square feeling “humiliated” following the incident, and was taken home to Renfrewshire by Charlene’s husband.

The proceedings also heard the couple had been in a stormy 15-month relationship, but that Mr Bell wouldn’t accept it was over.

Yesterday the jury delivered its not proven verdict on all three charges, each by majority verdict.

Sheriff Colin Pettigrew told the accused: “Gordon Cameron Bell, the jury has by majority verdict found these charges not proven. As this is a verdict of acquittal, you are free to go.”

Mr Bell said he was “relieved” his court ordeal was over, and added he felt it was “unfortunate” that matters had been brought to trial.