A businessman who threatened to kill his estranged partner’s boyfriend in the mistaken belief that he was a paedophile has been shown leniency by a sheriff.
Despite the murder threat, garage director Charles Sandeman escaped with just a £300 fine following an appearance at Perth Sheriff Court.
The 36-year-old, of Braehead Road, Invergowrie, had come to believe that the man may have abused one of his children.
He belatedly realised his error but by then had repeatedly threatened his former partner and her boyfriend with violence and had found police officers at his door.
Sandeman (pictured), who owns Glencross Motors on Clepington Road, Dundee, accepted in court on Wednesday that there had been no such abuse and expressed remorse for his actions.
He admitted that at the time he had lost his temper ”completely and utterly”.
The court was told the catalyst had been a conversation with one of his daughters.
She told Sandeman that she had a ”secret” about ”mummy’s boyfriend” and when she and his former partner refused to elaborate he swiftly jumped to the wrong conclusion.
Enraged beyond reason, Sandeman made a series of phone calls to his former partner and her boyfriend in which he issued a string of threats.
Over three days between November 6 and 9 last year he bombarded the woman with calls in which he called her abusive names and warned that her ”new man” would end up dead. He also threatened to ”punch holes right through him” and pledged that he would ”terrorise” the man.
Sandeman also made repeated demands to be told how to contact the object of his ire and, having tracked down a contact number, began to direct his threats at the man personally.
The court was told that Sandeman phoned the male complainer to threaten him with violence and warn him that he would end up dead. He followed this with further calls to his former partner warning that her boyfriend would be murdered.
The pair took the threats so seriously that they contacted the police.
The man was also so concerned by the threats that he also felt obliged to bring his relationship to an end.
Sandeman later appeared in court to admit that between November 6 and 9 last year at Mary Findlay Drive, Longforgan, he behaved in a threatening manner likely to cause alarm in that he shouted and swore at a woman and threatened violence to her and another person.
He also admitted that between the same dates at his own address, he uttered threats to a man in that he would be killed and would be the victim of serious acts of violence.
Sandeman’s solicitor Kris Gilmartin said: ”This was a curious situation and, while the charges are serious, the circumstances were such that they negate to some extent that seriousness.
”He became concerned that his daughter had been abused and made numerous attempts to investigate but was met with a wall of silence. As a result he completely and utterly lost his temper and made these threats.
”The secret remains a mystery to him but he is satisfied that there was no such abuse.”
Sheriff Michael Fletcher fined Sandeman £150 in connection with each offence.