A self-confessed “weirdo-stalker” admitted terrifying his former partner in a campaign of domestic abuse.
Physics student Garry McVicar threatened to “rip out” the eyes of his ex-girlfriend’s new boyfriend, before leaving a series of unwanted Valentine’s Day gifts on her doorstep.
Dundee Sheriff Court heard the 34-year-old BT worker bombarded his former partner with voice notes and left a creepy note on her doorstep written on the back of a cigarette packet, telling her it was “always you” before signing off with a letter G and a kiss.
He also sat outside her home all day.
McVicar, of Albert Street, admitted engaging in a course of behaviour which was abusive to his former partner in February 2023.
The serial domestic abuser was told by a sheriff he would normally be sent to prison but he had been convinced an alternative to custody was available.
Valentine’s Day terror
Depute fiscal Lee Corr told the court: “The witness and the accused had been in a relationship for around 2 and a half years and had split about four months before the incident occurred.
“The victim received a voicemail and missed it initially because she was out with her new partner.
“On February 14, she listened to it.
“She recognised it was from the accused.
“It stated he was going to kill her current partner and ‘rip his eyes out’.
“The complainer panicked about the message left on her phone.
“She contacted police and advised her partner and told him to stay away from the accused.
“The next day the victim left her home for work.
“At around 6.20pm she returned and saw outside her front door a bunch of flowers, a packet of Haribo sweets and a note on the back of a ripped cigarette packet, with the words ‘Always You, G x’ written on it.
“She recognised the handwriting as the accused’s.
Sat outside house all day
“On February 16 she returned home again from work, to a voicemail.
“It was from the accused and said he was sat on a wall outside her house since 6am.
“He explained he wanted to see her ‘one last time’ and say goodbye before he left the country.
“The accused later sent further voice notes similar in nature, saying he was looking like a ‘weirdo-stalker’ sitting outside her house waiting on her.
“This upset the complainer, she was scared by the message and was scared he would turn up at her address.
“She contacted her sister, who found it difficult to make out what she was saying because of how upset she was.
“The sister left her work to attend to the victim.
“As the sister drove to her house, she observed the accused sitting on a wall close to the address.”
Police were called and arrested McVicar at his home that afternoon.
‘Appalling record’
Defence solicitor Hannah Fairbrother, in mitigation, said: “The relationship had ended and he could not move on.
“He intends to complete his physics degree and works at BT.”
However, Sheriff John MacRitchie took a dim view and threatened prison.
“I would be sympathetic if he was not a serial domestic abuser.
“The option of imposing a custodial sentence is open to me.
“Anyone who participates as a ‘weirdo-stalker’ can expect to be removed from society.
“You have the most appalling record of domestic abuse.
“Anyone convicted of this type of offence deserves custody.
“This was distressing for your victim, to have a stalker sit outside her home.”
However, he said he could only jail McVicar where no alternative is available and in this instance, 120 hours of unpaid work could be imposed.
He also granted a non-harassment order.
“Allow your victim to get on with her life,” he warned.
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