A construction worker threatened a visually-impaired schoolgirl and told a woman he hoped she and her young son would die in a car crash.
Mark Smith was yesterday ordered by a sheriff to stay out of trouble after he admitted making the threats following a row with the boy’s mother.
At Peterhead Sheriff Court, fiscal depute Ruairidh McAlister said the 26-year-old made several phone calls to the woman during the evening of Friday, February 28.
Later that night, she parked her car outside her parents’ home in Peterhead, the court heard.
Mr McAlister said Smith then parked his car alongside her, blocking her door.
He called the woman a “liar” and a “tart”, the court was told.
The woman got out through the passenger door of her vehicle and went into the house, and her mother called the police.
Later, the woman received more calls and text messages from Smith.
Mr McAlister said the apprentice builder told her in one exchange: “I hope you and (your son) get killed in a car crash.”
The following day, Smith went back to the woman’s home, banged on a window and asked to be allowed inside.
The court heard that a 15-year-old girl, who is blind in one eye, was visiting the property.
Smith swore at her and called her “cock-eyed” and said he would get someone to “beat her up” next time she was at school.
Smith, of 33 Springbank Terrace, Peterhead, admitted two charges of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner which was likely to cause fear or alarm and a single count of sending messages to his victim which were grossly offensive or obscene.
His agent, solicitor Stuart Flowerdew, said that Smith was ashamed of his actions.
“He very much regrets all the language he used. He knows it was unacceptable,” the lawyer said.
“Clearly, he allowed his anger to get the better of him.”
Sheriff Mark Stewart QC told Smith: “Your response here was entirely over the top and unnecessary. This shows a total loss of self-control.”
He deferred sentenced on two charges for 12 months to allow Smith to prove he could stay out of trouble.
On the third charge, which involved threatening the schoolgirl, Smith was fined £150.