Ex-squaddie put women through hell over abuse lies
A former paratrooper caught with a cache of bullets boasted he was a trained gunman - as he hounded social workers and branded them child abusers. Gareth Nicholas warned staff he was “a skilled and accurate shot with a grenade machine gun” during a bitter break-up from his police officer ex, Paisley Sheriff Court heard .
Nicholas also made bogus claims that PC Carrie-Ann McNab was hooked on cocaine, had abused him and abused and assaulted a child.
Paisley
Sheriff Court heard that, as a result of Nicholas’ actions, one East Renfrewshire social worker was forced to quit her job and is now on medication.
PC McNab had to be signed off work sick and install CCTV cameras at her home.
Nicholas split from PC McNab after five years together in 2012.
Between September 2019, and July 2020, in Barrhead, he embarked on a hate campaign.
Nicholas, who is also said to have served in the Royal Navy and Welsh Guards, has already admitted charges of behaving in a threatening and abusive manner to social workers Donna Muir and Lynzi Freemantle.
Procurator fiscal depute David McDonald detailed Nicholas’ crimes, which spanned 15 typed pages.
He sent countless emails to the social workers and recorded a conversation without consent. He also repeatedly posted offensive remarks about them, and their personal details, on social media.
He also scrawled “East Renfrewshire
Council are corrupt” in permanent marker on his hall wall.
Prosecutor Mr McDonald said: “One of the emails, titled ‘corrupt social worker’, contained an attachment which was a document from the accused’s time serving in the military, and contains an assessment of the accused’s proficiency with firearms.
“It is noted therein that, ‘he is a skilled and accurate show with a GMG’.
“A GMG is more commonly known as a grenade machine gun. This was very alarming to social work staff.”
The court heard his claims that PC McNab abused cocaine were “without foundation”.
A police search of Nicholas’ home in Glasgow Road, Barrhead, unveiled 5.56mm (NATO) bulleted cartridges each loaded with a full metal jacketed ( FMJ) bullet manufactured for the British Military.
Sheriff Colin Pettigrew said he wanted “to take time to consider” what sentence to impose, and further deferred sentencing until next week.