Threats in messages to ex-boss

Left abusive voicemails

A Stirling man who left threatening and abusive voicemails with his former employer was this week given a year’s supervision.

John Napier had left the messages with Saturn Taxis in Stirling on June 14 this year. He had admitted a charge of threatening and abusive behaviour aggravated by religious prejudice.

The 42-year-old had worked for the taxi firm for approximately four years, fiscal depute Lindsey Brooks told Stirling Sheriff Court on Wednesday.

His employer noted that Napier had been getting into financial difficulties and an agreement had been made to pay him differently.

Ms Brooks said Napier however lost the job, adding: “I’m not sure exactly when parties had gone their separate ways.”

The owner of Saturn Taxis, a Mr Payne, received four voicemails on the evening of June 14 this year.

The first was left at 5pm when Napier stated he would ‘see to’ Mr Payne and hung up.

At 6.40pm he left a second voicemail stating that he would ‘knife’ Mr Payne.

The third was left at 7.20pm in which Napier said various things which included the phrase ‘Fenian b ****** .’

And in the fourth and final message, left at 9.20pm, Napier said he would be ‘seeing to’ Mr Payne’s daughter or wife.

Mr Payne spoke to the co-owner of the business and the matter was reported to the police.

When interviewed Napier told officers that he had made the calls, but couldn’t recall what he said as he was on drink and drugs at the time. He made no reply to caution and charge.

His lawyer George Pollock pointed out that Napier had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity. The solicitor also said Napier had a background of severe alcohol abuse, exacerbated by family bereavement over the last few years. He also had a “suicidal background”.

There had been a gap in Napier’s offending in the ten years preceding 2017 and he appeared to be motivated to address his problems.

A period of supervision was coming to an end this month, said Mr Pollock, and a report prepared for the court recommended a further period of supervision.

The lawyer also told Sheriff William Gilchrist that Napier was “in no position to explain” the reasons behind the offence.

Sheriff Gilchrist imposed a community payback order, comprising 12 months’ supervision, with a review on December 19.