Millionaire charged with behaving in aggressive manner
Tycoon placed wife in state of fear and alarm
A well known Stirling area businessman last week appeared in court accused of shouting and swearing at his wife.
Euan Snowie dodged a bail ban on talking to her after his lawyer argued they needed to communicate to manage their many millions.
The accused, whose family made a fortune disposing of dead animals during the 2001 foot and mouth crisis, was led into the dock at Stirling Sheriff Court in handcuffs.
He was charged with behaving in a threatening and abusive manner towards his wife Claire during an alleged incident on Wednesday, January 11 at their luxury estate at Boquhan House, Kippen.
Appearing from custody, Snowie, 48, tie-less but smartly dressed in a jacket, trousers, and pink shirt, pleaded not guilty.
He is charged with behaving in a manner that would cause a reasonable person to suffer fear and alarm in that he “did shout and swear at, and behave in an aggressive manner towards” Claire at their home.
Prosecutor Eilidh Smith did not oppose bail, but sought a special condition that he should not contact Claire.
The depute fiscal said police had been unable to complete an assessment of the risk he allegedly posed to Claire, 49, “due to the complainer being visibly distressed”.
Mrs Smith said: “From the information I have from the police, she is very fearful of her husband. That’s the information given to the police by witnesses.”
Solicitor-advocate Neil Hay, for Snowie, opposed the ban. He said: “They have an unusual set-up at home, because both are directors of a number of businesses, and the office is based in the family home. There are office staff based there. It is not simply a study. It is a proper, functioning office within the family home.
“The suggestion, which is a very obvious suggestion, that he should not be allowed to communicate with the lady in question, would prevent communication in relation to their very significant, multi- million pound, business interests.
“There is, for instance, an estate, there is the Snowie Solutions farming partnership, and there are a number of imminent business decisions to be made and contracts to be signed, including selling commercial property in the next two weeks, leasing warehouses, and suchlike.”
Mr Hay said the allegation against Snowie was “very much at the lower end of the scale” and the businessman had no previous convictions of a domestic nature involving his wife in a marriage of over 20 years.
Sheriff William Gilchrist said he would not ban Snowie from speaking to Claire, but ordered him to live at another of his properties – in Bridge of Allan – and to enter Boquhan House to attend the office there only between the hours of 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.
He added: “I think that’s a sensible alternative. The issue here is trying to avoid a repetition of what is alleged to have occurred on this occasion.”
Mr Hay said: “For the sake of crystal clarity, the lady does reside there, and they have their business interests. Is it the court’s position that they may discuss between 9 and 5 their respective business matters?”
Sheriff Gilchrist replied: “I won’t impose any condition in relation to contact with the complainer.”
He set trial for February 21 and also ordered Snowie to appear at a pre-trial review on February 7.
Both are directors of a number of businesses, and the office is based in the family home