An Angus man has been warned his two-year feud with a rival family has placed him at the doors of prison.
Scott Wilson will be sentenced next month for threats made to a woman on a public bus between Forfar and Kirriemuir but has been told by a sheriff that any attempt to contact the victim in the interim will see him go “straight to jail”.
Wilson, 40, of Sidlaw Range in Kirriemuir, appeared before Sheriff Gregor Murray at Forfar, where he admitted behaving in a threatening manner on June 26 last year by making derogatory comments to a woman and threatening her with violence.
Depute fiscal Jill Drummond told the court that in June 2012 a dispute occurred between the accused’s family and the victim over goods having been ordered but not paid for.
“This resulted in numerous acts of behaviour being exchanged until July, when concerns regarding the accused’s behaviour were raised by the other party,” said the fiscal.
The court was told there appeared to have been a “campaign of abusive and childish comments”, which had led to police involvement.
Ms Drummond said that on June 26, the complainer got on a bus to Kirriemuir with a friend and a young boy.
Wilson was also on the bus and when the complainer reached up to open a window, he made a remark about her personal hygiene.
The accused made further comments, including one which the complainer believed related to her partner being stabbed.
The fiscal added: “He said ‘I’ll see you later, you ken what’s coming’.
“She was scared and felt intimidated; she perceived this as a genuine threat.”
The fiscal said the victim was initially hesitant to report the incident out of fear but eventually went to police.
Sheriff Murray deferred sentence on Wilson until February 12 for a social inquiry report, with a stern warning to the accused over his conduct in the intervening period.
“It’s time that whatever went on between you and this woman’s family must end,” he said.
“You are very lucky not to be facing a far more serious charge.
“Your behaviour was reprehensible, in particular, the reference to the stabbing of the victim’s boyfriend.”
A special bail condition was imposed, banning Wilson from contacting the victim or any member of her family in any way.
The sheriff added: “You can take it that if you breach that you will be going straight to jail.”