Footballer threatened to kill wife over affair with officer
a FORmeR professional footballer has admitted sending messages threatening to kill his estranged wife after her affair with a senior police officer hit the headlines.
Lee makel – who played for Blackburn Rovers, hearts and Livingston – pleaded guilty at Jedburgh Sheriff Court to threatening and abusive behaviour towards his ex-partner Claire makel and former Police Scotland chief superintendent Gareth Blair.
The 49-year-old admitted sending messages to mrs makel that were abusive and threatening, including threats to kill her and Blair, and sending further abusive messages about the policeman.
The offences took place at his former home in Lauder, Berwickshire, and in Dubai from June to September 2019.
Defending, Jennifer Cameron said makel sent the messages at a time when there had been ‘significant publicity’ about his wife and Blair ‘participating in public indecency at the hermiston Gait park and ride car park’ in edinburgh.
Blair, 51, was fined £750 for public indecency and mrs makel, 44, had her plea of not guilty accepted. Witnesses told police the couple were engaged in sexual activity in public view in a vehicle in the car park.
miss Cameron asked Sheriff Peter Paterson for an absolute discharge for makel as he has applied for a coaching post involving american college scholarships but he required clear disclosure and a criminal conviction would affect this.
Sheriff Paterson questioned whether the sentence would be competent if he imposed a non-harassment Order, which mrs makel had requested. Sentence was deferred until September 13. makel, who now lives in york, was not required to appear for the hearing.
miss Cameron said the messages to Blair were sent when makel was on holiday in Dubai with neighbours and mrs makel had been due to attend. he was drinking at the time and apologised the next day.
miss Cameron said he had hoped for a reconciliation but he was sent messages by Blair’s wife, who said steps had been taken to divide property. he felt deceived by mrs makel on what was happening.
She continued: ‘he was having some sort of a breakdown. he is a family man and was very much in love with his wife. They had been married for ten years and been together for 15 years with two children.’
miss Cameron said makel had lost his job working as a football coach six to eight
‘Participating in public indecency’
weeks ago when his employers found out about the case and he had been paying £350 a month in child maintenance while working. She asked for an absolute discharge to allow him the opportunity of taking up further employment.
Procurator fiscal alasdair Fay said the breakdown of the makels’ marriage took place in the public eye. he said on June 14, 2019, makel sent messages which had caused his estranged wife alarm and distress but, as he was in Dubai, she did not feel threatened.
When he returned a week later messages were sent containing explicit threats to kill mrs makel and Blair.
mr Fay said on September 1, 2019, further messages were sent to mrs makel which caused anxiety and led to the matter being reported.