A man who accused his girlfriend of cheating on him stole her car – and then sent a photograph of it next to a fire.
Linda Milton left the home she shared with her partner Ross Stronach on October 30 last year following a heated row.
After parking her car outside her friend Karen Reid’s house on George Street, Huntly, the pair went to their local pub for a drink.
However when Stronach later appeared and asked him to come home, she refused – prompting him to steal her handbag and make off with her white Vauxhall Mokka.
The 25-year-old then threatened to “smash up” the car and make a bonfire with her clothes – even sending her a photograph of the vehicle parked next to a small blaze.
Yesterday Stronach, of Scurdargue, Rhynie, Huntly, appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court and pleaded guilty to three charges against him.
He admitted stealing the handbag and its contents before driving away Miss Milton’s car without her consent.
He also admitted sending her messages which were grossly offensive, obscene or menacing by making threats to damage her property.
Fiscal depute Colin Neilson said: “Sometime during the evening on Friday, October 30, Linda Milton and the accused had been arguing and she decided to stay at her friend Karen’s house for the night.
“At about 5.30pm Linda parked her car outside Karen’s house on George Street, Huntly, locked it and put her car keys in her handbag.”
Mr Neilson said the friends then went to the Strathdeveron Bar at around 10.30pm where they met Stronach.
He said: “At around 12.15am Linda was sat at the bar with her handbag on a stool next to her. The accused approached her and asked if she would come back to their house in Rhynie.
“She said no and ordered another drink at the bar. When she turned to get her handbag to pay she noticed it was missing and the accused was gone too. Her handbag contained her mobile phone, house keys and car keys.”
The court heard a short while later Miss Reid received a phone call from her friend’s mobile number.
Miss Milton answered the call and could hear the accused’s voice “shouting at her and accusing her of cheating”.
Mr Neilson said a further call was made “of a similar nature”.
He said: “The accused was heard to say ‘I’m going to write off your car, I’m going to smash your car up.
“‘I’m going to have a bondy with your stuff. Linda took this to mean that the accused’s intention was to burn her things.”
The court heard Miss Milton and Miss Reid then left the bar, and discovered the car was gone.
Mr Neilson added: “Karen then received a picture message of the Vauxhall and a small fire next to it. It was taken outside their home.”
The prosecutor said the police were called, and when officers arrived they found the car outside the property and said it “felt warm to touch”.
The court heard the officers then forced their way into the house and found Stronach inside with Miss Milton’s handbag and its contents.
Sheriff Alison Stirling deferred sentence on Stronach until next month for background reports to be carried out.