A former oil boss who claims he was harassed by an ex-employee after sacking him was yesterday accused of committing perjury.
Wayne Ledingham is on trial accused of stalking Warren Anderson between May and December 2015 by setting up fake Twitter accounts, repeatedly messaging him and sharing articles on Linkedin about his company going into administration.
He’s also claimed to have made fake images of the alleged victim’s face as well as threatening to expose him as a fraudster.
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The court heard previously that Ledingham was employed at GOT Services and was in charge of opening the company’s Houston office.
Mr Anderson claimed he dismissed him in October 2014 after it emerged he had set up another company without telling him.
He also said the behaviour of his former employee was “intimidating, threatening and damaging” and denied owing him 50% of future profits after Ledingham invested £200,000 into the Houston office.
While giving evidence, Mr Anderson said he had taken two director’s loans which were in lieu of a salary.
But at the trial yesterday, Alexander Walker, a case manager at tax and audit firm KPMG, contradicted this account.
Defence lawyer Paul Barnett asked him: “Mr Anderson gave evidence to the effect that he had taken a director’s loan in lieu of a salary, in your dealings with Mr Anderson has he ever indicated that he took the director’s loan in lieu of a salary?”
Mr Alexander, 41, replied: “Not that I can remember.”
Graeme Olley, who sold GOT Services Limited to Mr Anderson in 2008, also gave evidence yesterday and said Mr Anderson had paid himself a salary.
He said that when he was still waiting on the final payment, which was due in 2013, to be handed over, he had a look at the company accounts which showed a salary of £85,000 which was a breach of the £45,000 limit agreed.
In his submissions to the sheriff, Mr Barnett accused Mr Anderson of lying.
He said: “Mr Anderson committed perjury on two occasions in relation to important issues in this case.”
He added that the stalking legislation was not for people like Mr Anderson, stressing that the legislation was there to “provide protection for those who need and deserve it”.
He told the court: “Mr Anderson is not a victim.”
But fiscal depute Kelly Mitchell argued that Ledingham, aged 51, went too far in his actions.
She said: “I would say he has gone above and beyond what is reasonable and there would have been other avenues open.” She described his conduct as “completely unnecessary.”
Ledingham, of Farmers Hall in Aberdeen, denies the charge against him.
A verdict in the trial, before Sheriff Margaret Hodge, is expected at Aberdeen Sheriff Court today.
