A sheriff slammed a divorced Angus couple for “irresponsible” behaviour when they appeared in court.
Kevin Stewart, 34, from Montrose appeared on trial at Forfar Sheriff Court on Monday, where the court heard a heated text exchange over child maintenance led to a breach of the peace.
Although Stewart was convicted, his ex-wife also received a dressing down from Sheriff Gregor Murray, who said text messages sent before the April 6 confrontation were “reprehensible”.
The court heard the pair had been married for six years, a marriage that had ended in 2008.
Text messages had been sent over the course of the morning, referring to financial arrangements and access privileges to their children.
Examined by depute fiscal Jim Eodonable, the female complainer said: “Around 1.30pm I was in the kitchen when the front door opened.
“I assumed it was my partner but it was my ex-husband who’d come in. I asked him to step out of the house, which he refused to do. It was quite intimidating… he seemed very angry.”
She added: “He was very detrimental about the decor of the house and what I was spending maintenance money on.”
PC Louise Sheriffs, 36, interviewed Stewart at Arbroath Police Station and the court was shown the footage.
During the interview, Stewart referred to a number of text messages which inferred visiting rights would be withheld if he did not keep up maintenance payments.
Defence agent Nick Whelan asked whether any officer had checked Stewart’s phone to give context to his unannounced visit, to which PC Sheriffs said they had not.
Stewart had denied behaving in a threatening or abusive manner in that he entered the woman’s house uninvited, placing her in a state of fear or alarm.
Admonishing Stewart, Sheriff Murray said the decision to “breenge round and demand to see the children” could only have resulted in a fight.
But he said to the complainer: “You accept your kids were going to see their dad. What were your kids looking forward to that day? You sent the texts, and you must understand your responsibilities.
“Your behaviour as a parent was reprehensible.”