A CLYDEBANK man who sent almost 150 vile and abusive messages to his ex in two days has been banned from going near her for five years.

Kevin Scoular, 44, also tried to call his victim multiple times as police went in search of him in the town.

Dumbarton Sheriff Court heard last week how the six-year “on-off” relationship broke down on December 11 and Scoular didn’t “react well”.

Only a handful of the 118 messages he sent in one evening were read out in court, with Scoular calling the woman a “tramp” and “dirty dog”.

At 7.45pm on December 12, the woman had had enough and contacted police - as Scoular, of Kilbowie Court, continued to send more abusive messages.

Police, recounted fiscal depute Sarah Healing, found the woman “very upset and fearful” of Scoular.

At around 6am the next day, the woman got a call from an unknown number but hung up when she heard Scoular’s voice. He tried another seven times during the morning.

There were also another 27 abusive messages that morning and so the victim called the police again.

At around 11.50am on December 13, Scoular was arrested at home and even during the journey to Clydebank police office continued to make comments to officers about his ex, including calling her “tramp” and “dirty dog”.

He was repeatedly cautioned about his comments but told officers he didn’t “give a f***”.

Sheriff Maxwell Hendry noted the social work report on Scoular found him “extremely critical of the other person in the relationship”.

Even defence solicitor Tom Brown was blunt about his own client, admitting: “It’s dreadful behaviour.”

He said Scoular was assessed as “not likely to harm others” but Mr Brown acknowledged his crimes were clearly harmful and he “has to sit down with people” to curb his behaviour.

Prosecutor Ms Healing said the survivor was assessed herself as being at high risk of being targeted again, prompting her to ask for a five-year non-harassment order.

She described that the relationship had an “element of power and control imbalance”, something which is in the process of being criminalised in Scotland but doesn’t come into force until April 2019.

The act will not apply to crimes or alleged crimes before April.

Sheriff Hendry told Scoular: “When you listen to the fiscal describing how you acted last year, I can only hope you’re filled with embarrassment and shame, and the attitude you articulated to police is not one you’re taking forward.

“I have had to consider sending you to prison.”

Instead, the sheriff imposed a number of punishments. He ordered Scoular to be under the supervision of social workers for two years and to attend the Pair programme for the “great deal of work required” to curb his abusive attitudes.

Scoular must also do 175 hours of unpaid work and he must be home between the hours of 7pm and 7am for the next four months. He is also banned from contacting his former partner and isn’t allowed into a particular Drumry street, for five years.

Sheriff Hendry added: “If you breach that, prison becomes inevitable.”

Reaction: Horrible behaviour is ‘no surprise’ to women’s aid campaigners

Clydebank Women’s Aid (CWA) said the volume of messages and calls did not surprise them.

A spokeswoman said this is the level of harassment when a woman decides to leave her abuser.

She told the Post: “We would not be surprised by that. It just continues the fear and makes a woman frightful about what’s going to happen.
“It’s a level of harassment that has a massive impact on your wellbeing. It’s a horrible place to be.”

Messages and phone calls are just one example of what’s referred to as coercive control within domestic abuse. Coercive control can increase when the women decides to leave the abuser.

The CWA spokeswoman said: “Technology is used a lot because it is an easy way to keep track of someone. We have also heard of Facebook and social media being used and going through friends and family to harass a woman.
“It’s all part of the domestic abuse and it’s about that dynamic of power and control.”

When the new legislation comes into force in April around coercive control, messages, calls and other controlling behaviours that are part of the on-going abuse will now be considered a crime, not just physical violence.

CWA added: “We hope that the law will be effective in deterring men from using this type of behaviour within the context of domestic abuse. This type of behaviour is often used by men to continue to control their partners.”

The local charity debuted a film last year on coercive control and will be using a DVD of the production as part of training throughout the community.