A sparky from Fife who threatened to sabotage a job and “wreck” a company boss after getting the sack has narrowly avoided prison.
William Ferguson told electrical firm director Steven Hunter he would cut every wire on the job he had been working on at the time he got the boot.
A court heard Ferguson, 28, had been a self-employed electrician and had been obtaining contract work through a Stirlingshire-based company for about six months.
At about 5pm on August 14 2022, he was contacted by the firm and told they would no longer be providing work for him.
Prosecutor Rachel Hill said: “About 40 minutes later Mr Ferguson phoned back, swearing and said he was very angry at being laid off.”
He threatened to turn up and “sort” Mr Hunter, 59.
He also said, “I’ll burst you”.
In a further call he added, “You’re a f***ing p**f”, and “I’ll wreck yous”.
Cable cut threat
When he then threatened to turn up at Mr Hunter’s address in Hill of Muir, near Denny, police were contacted.
Ms Hill said: “The accused then made another phone call a few minutes later, still very angry.
“He threatened to ‘cut every f***ing cable’ at his job.”
Ms Hill said Ferguson made about 20 calls and sent eight text messages, all of a similar nature.
He was arrested at his home in Dunfermline and told police, “I think this is bulls**t”.
‘Disrespected’ by victim
At Falkirk Sheriff Court, Ferguson, of Broomhead Drive, admitted committing a statutory breach of the peace, aggravated by homophobia.
Solicitor Lynn Swan, defending, said Ferguson had been working with the firm for some time.
She said: “He was actually out with his partner when he received the phone call saying there was no more work for him and he had consumed some alcohol.
“There seemed to have been some issue that had arisen.
“He felt he had been disrespected by Mr Hunter.”
She added: “There is reference (in a background report) to him having some ‘personal difficulties’.”
Mrs Swan said Ferguson is now unemployed but had attended a job interview and was “hopeful” that would change.
Sentencing
The court heard that a month before the incident, Ferguson had been sentenced at another court to 200 hours of unpaid work for sending threatening messages to another person.
Sheriff Christopher Shead told him: “Weeks later, you are offending again in what seems to be a very similar way.
“On the face of it, you are an obvious candidate for a custodial sentence.
“However, I have to decide if that is the only appropriate disposal in the public interest.
“You obviously have skills, you can work, and even though you’ve been in trouble from time to time, you’ve managed to keep out of trouble for protracted periods.”
He sentenced Ferguson to a further 200 hours of unpaid work, subjected him to a four month 8pm to 7am curfew, during which he will have to wear an electronic ankle tag, and placed him under social work supervision for a year.
He warned: “Offend again, and you’ll find yourself going to custody.”
