A raging boyfriend put his fist through a car window, showering a young girl with glass.
Steven Cameron chased his partner’s car as she tried to escape him following an explosive tantrum at their home in Perth’s Letham area.
When the vehicle stopped, he approached the driver’s side and punched a back window.
The 37-year-old appeared at the city’s sheriff court and admitted endangering the preschool-age back seat passenger and his ex-partner.
Cameron, of Mitchell Street, Crieff, pled guilty to a domestically aggravated charge of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner on April 7, last year.
He admitted culpably and recklessly punching the window of his then-partner’s car to its occupants’ danger.
He further admitted breaking a court order by approaching and contacting his girlfriend six days later.
Pursued partner’s car
Cameron had been in a relationship with his partner for about 18 months, fiscal depute Andrew Harding told the court.
“At around 9am on April 7, the complainer… asked him to take her car and get a puncture repaired.
“The accused said he didn’t want to do that and became aggressive.
“He got out of bed and began shouting and swearing.”
Cameron called his girlfriend a “f***ing mungo” and a “b***h”.
He was asked to leave the property, Mr Harding said.
His girlfriend then locked herself in another room.
She heard a crashing noise from outside, as Cameron grabbed a sound bar from the TV and threw it down the hallway.
“The complainer exited and ran passed the accused, out and into her car,” said the fiscal depute.
“She drove away and the accused followed in his own vehicle.”
The court heard after a short pursuit, both vehicles came to a stop.
“The accused exited his car and shouted at the complainer through the window of her vehicle.
“She put the safety locks on to prevent him from getting inside.
“The accused then punched a side window, causing glass to smash.
“It showered onto a four-year-old girl, who was in the back seat.”
Cameron’s girlfriend reversed, then accelerated away.
“She made attempts to get to a place of safety so she could call police,” said Mr Harding.
When she noticed her boyfriend was not chasing her, she pulled over and dialled 999.
Cameron was arrested later that morning.
Terrified by boyfriend’s conduct
Just before midnight on April 11, Cameron drove up and down the street, revving his engine, said Mr Harding.
“The complainer was terrified as she felt the accused was making sure she knew he had found her new address.”
She saw his car again in her street the next day.
Mr Harding said: “The accused raised his middle finger before driving a short distance and stopped again.”
He drove away when a witness went to challenge him, the fiscal depute said.
Later that evening, Cameron’s ex told police he had been sending her text messages.
“None were abusive in nature,” said Mr Harding.
Out of order
Solicitor Pauline Cullerton, defending, said her client had no issue with the court imposing a non-harassment order.
“The relationship is at an end. There has been no contact with her.”
Ms Cullerton said Cameron had attempted to get his partner’s attention, by punching her car window.
But he “missed” and hit the back window instead.
“It must have been a particularly frightening experience,” she said.
“He accepts that his behaviour was totally out of order.”
Sheriff John MacRitchie told Cameron his conduct which endangered the young girl was “abhorrent”.
He deferred sentence for background reports until May 10.
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