Highland woman changed daily routine and workplace in bid to avoid abuser
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A 31-year-old man who terrorised his ex-partner for three months after they split at the start of 2022 due to his drunken behaviour has had his sentence deferred again.
Inverness Sheriff Court heard that James Marshall was struggling with alcohol and drug issues at the time and Sheriff Sara Matheson decided to defer the outcome again for a second drug treatment and testing assessment.
Marshall will re-appear on September 28.
At a previous court, the sheriff was told that the Conon Bridge woman had been in a relationship with Marshall, formerly of Muir of Ord and now of Mackay Road, Inverness.
But when they separated at the beginning of January, Marshall repeatedly contacted her, which left her frightened for her safety.
Fiscal depute Pauline Gair told Sheriff Sara Matheson that a short time after they parted, the women got off a bus in Conon Bridge and Marshall was spotted walking behind her.
"She told him she did not want his company and was left shaken," Mrs Gair said. "On January 27, 2022, he attended at her home uninvited in the late evening. She was alone celebrating her birthday.
"He repeatedly knocked at the door and refused to leave when requested. He put a package through her letter box but it was returned. She messaged him to intimate she did not want his attention. She was scared and in fear of her safety.
"Throughout February she saw him several times at various times and locations in Dingwall and Conon Bridge, causing her extreme anxiety. She blocked him on social media and took measures to alter her daily routine and place of work.
"On March 17, 2022 he again attended at her house uninvited, entered the garden and walked around the house."
Marshall admitted a course of domestic abuse against his former partner.
He also pleaded guilty to wilful fireraising after being found intoxicated at the door of a friend's house in Windsor Place, Conon Bridge on February 1, 2022. He made two emergency calls saying that the property was on fire.
The court was told that the fire service attended and deemed the source of the fire was the letter box due to the scorch marks there. Marshall was arrested and charged with starting it. He was searched by police and a knife was found in his backpack. He also admitted possession of the knife without reasonable excuse.
Marshall admitted a fourth charge of threatening behaviour towards another of his ex-partners on January 1, 2022 when he threatened to smash up her car.
