A man followed his ex-girlfriend home through Glenrothes, carrying a glass bottle which he used to cut his own throat.
Michael Pattinson, 23, a Perth Prison inmate, appeared at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court by video link on Tuesday to plead guilty to acting in a threatening or abusive manner.
On June 3, Pattinson followed his former partner along Warout Road and Glamis Avenue in the Fife town, armed with the vodka bottle.
Depute Fiscal Claire Bremner said the pair’s two-year relationship came to an end when Pattinson was sent to prison in 2019.
Victim’s terrified call to mother
The court heard the complainer was walking home at around 9.20pm and was approached by Pattinson, who smelled of alcohol.
He said he would smash the glass bottle he was carrying and made assault threats towards her mother and step father.
After telling the woman he would walk her home and having his offer rejected, Pattinson began pursuing her, shouting and swearing.
While she was crying down the phone to her mother asking for help, Pattinson continued to follow her.
The victim ‘s mother quickly contacted police.
Pattinson smashed the vodka bottle he was wielding and said: “I’m going to your mum’s house, watch and f***ing learn.”
However, Pattinson used it to slash his own throat.
Ms Bremner added: “The accused picked up the bottle and drew it across his own neck three times, causing it to bleed.”
The wounds were not deep enough for Pattinson to require hospital treatment.
‘Risk to females’ must be assessed
Defence solicitor Scott McKenzie explained Pattinson, who has a previous stalking conviction, had been under the influence of alcohol and Valium.
Having already been subject to a non-harassment order which banned him from contacting his former partner until 2024, Sheriff James Williamson deferred sentence until next month to consider extending Ellis’s court order and his risk to other women.
The sheriff said: “I’m going to defer sentence because I need to understand the risk that you present, not only to the complainer but to females in particular.”
Pattinson will be sentenced by video link on September 7.
