An Aberdeen man who threatened to “destroy” his solicitor and bombarded him with dozens of abusive phone calls has blamed his bad behaviour on strong painkillers.
Jonathan Murray shouted, swore and ranted about legal aid paperwork during a series of furious calls to Collins and Co, an Edinburgh firm of solicitors.
In 27 voicemails on Simon Collins’ phone, Murray warned that he “knew where he lives” and said he would “destroy” him and those around him.
The 54-year-old also ranted at a female assistant at the law firm and branded her a “useless f****** b****” in a series of calls on August 5 2019.
Fiscal depute Rebecca Thompson told Aberdeen Sheriff Court: “The complainer is a solicitor advocate who previously represented the accused.”
‘I don’t remember it’
She said that at 11.54am, on the day in question, the woman answered the phone and heard Murray shouting and demanding to speak to Mr Collins.
On being told he wasn’t available, Murray said: “Your legal aid forms are incorrect. You need to send me new ones to sign. Are you listening?”
Murray, who was previously convicted of writing “kill all cops” in his own excrement on the wall of a police cell, then went on to leave his solicitor 27 voicemails.
In them he shouted, swore and threatened to report his legal representative to the industry’s regulator, the Law Society of Scotland.
He also threatened to “destroy Mr Collins and those around him”.
Ms Thompson said: “He also said he knew where Mr Collins lives and would meet him when he returned from annual leave.”
In another call that was answered by the lawyer’s assistant, Murray said: “It’s me again, you useless f****** b****.”
The woman hung up and contacted the police.
Murray, whose address was given as Ruthrieston Gardens in Aberdeen, pled guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner.
He had also faced a second charge, alleging that, on October 7 2019, he repeatedly phoned the Red Cross Office on Claremont Place, shouted, swore, made offensive and racial remarks, threatened violence and said he was in possession of a firearm.
‘I still want to maintain diminished responsibility’
However, Murray’s pleas of not guilty to that, and a charge of breaching a non-harassment order, were accepted by the Crown.
Now representing himself and without a solicitor, Murray told the court: “I don’t remember it but I wouldn’t consider Mr Collins a liar in any way whatsoever.”
He added that he had been on tramadol – a strong prescription painkiller – at the time of the offence.
Asked about his ability to pay a fine, Murray said: “I’m relying on Universal Credit. I’m not even able to pay my electricity bills just now”.
Honourary Sheriff Susan Stokeld said: “You’re not alone in that, Mr Murray.”
Murray said: “I still want to maintain diminished responsibility due to the medication I was on.”
The sheriff fined him £135 to be paid at £10 per month.
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Man wrote ‘kill all cops’ on cell wall using his own excrement
