A serial domestic abuser is back behind bars after leaving a former girlfriend “too frightened to leave her home”.
Kevin McCallum, 26, of Thornton Place in Forfar, was jailed and banned from Montrose last year after a catalogue of domestic disturbances, and was again remanded in custody at Forfar Sheriff Court.
He admitted a charge of engaging in a course of conduct that caused fear and alarm in a woman, repeatedly phoning, text messaging and leaving Facebook messages between July 13 and 17 inclusive in Thornton Place and Kemsley Park.
Defence agent Norman Fraser said McCallum was subject to a three-year probation order dating from last year, and depute fiscal Nicola Gillespie told the court that the order stemmed from an analogous offence.
Mr Fraser said his client recognised he had a record for this kind of offence but argued the messages were more notable for their volume than their content.
“There are about three pieces of transcript but they are relatively benign or indeed loving in their terms,” he added.
Sheriff Kevin Veal said: “That may be so but these items, when taken with previous offences, give some cause for concern.”
Ms Gillespie said the woman, with whom McCallum had previously been in a two-month relationship, had considered moving out of her home and to another town.
She said: “My lord will see the extent of the previous convictions, which are a worry, and added to that, this is a fairly new relationship.
“This female has indicated to police she is very concerned and is too frightened to leave her home address. The accused lives within 40 metres and has a line of sight with her home, which is of great concern to her.”
A change of address for McCallum was suggested at the bail hostel Eastport House in Dundee but it was considered to be too full.
McCallum’s parents stay in Montrose but an interdict was imposed against his entry to the town, in order to protect another woman.
He had bombarded another former girlfriend with silent calls, hours after being released from prison for offences against her in March last year. He had been jailed for six months for putting her through an ordeal over a spilled cup of juice.
McCallum grabbed the woman by the throat, forced her to the ground and pulled her phone away as she tried to make a 999 call to raise the alarm.
The victim did eventually manage to get through to police but she was so traumatised by the attack that she was unable to speak.
Sheriff Veal added: “From the narrative, there does seem to be a genuine fear and alarm not often seen in these cases.
“I want to ensure appropriate safeguards are in place for this woman and oppose bail.”
The case will call again on Thursday in order for a bail address to be determined.