A soldier who stalked his ex in Dundee and sent her blood-stained letters may now keep his job with the Army.
Matthew Williams, 19, whose previous duties have been guarding the Queen on Royal Deeside, faced a future without his chosen military career due to his repeated failures to accept that his relationship with a student was over, Dundee Sheriff Court was previously told.
Solicitor Anika Jethwa, defending Williams, told the court the Army has had a change of heart and is willing to work with him and the social work department on any community-based disposal.
Ms Jethwa said: “His commanding officer is here in court and it appears that while he has been off sick and he still has leave due to him, he has been working with the mental health team and senior medical officers from the military.
“His offending came about because of the break-up of his relationship. Things have moved on considerably and moves are afoot to allow him to get back to work. I think the penny has finally dropped.”
Sheriff Alastair Carmichael placed Williams under supervision for 18 months, telling him: “Put bluntly, if you mess up there is a high chance you will go into custody.”
He also imposed a five-year non-harassment order not to approach or contact his former girlfriend.
Williams, of Burghmuir Court in Linlithgow, previously admitted several offences committed between September 2 and October 21 2017.
He breached his bail conditions by entering the 17-year-old girl’s building on Perth Road and attempting to communicate with her and handing two blood-splattered letters for her to one of her friends.
He also admitted possessing a knife on September 29 at Magdalen Yard Road and elsewhere unknown.
He also admitted he concealed himself outside her flat, waited for her to leave and followed her, asked her friend to give details of her where-abouts and acted in an aggressive manner towards her, shouting and swearing at her and kicking the door at her home.
He also sent text messages to her mother and followed her while she was shopping.
Williams also admitted he repeatedly contacted her and her family and associates, entered her home uninvited and refused to leave and left unwanted gifts at her home.
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