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Man threatened to follow policewoman home – then rape and murder her and any children she had

Kittybrewster Police Office.
Kittybrewster police station in Aberdeen. Image: DC Thomson

A man threatened to follow a policewoman home – then rape and murder the young officer and any children she had.

Michael Masson told the female constable that he had been watching her and knew where she lived, leaving her “visibly shaken”.

The 27-year-old warned that he had “nothing to lose” and wanted to “cause someone serious harm” during an incident which started in Portlethen on August 25 last year.

Masson hurled vile abuse, made chilling threats and repeatedly shouted and swore at the female officer who he called a “f****** lesbian f***** s***”.

The victim’s male colleague, who described Masson’s behaviour as “abhorrent”, told Aberdeen Sheriff Court that it was the worst he’d experienced in his 17-year career.

‘He had been watching her’

The court heard that a police officer had reason to visit an address on Dunvegan Crescent in Portlethen around 6.30pm on August 25 last year.

An officer initially attended alone but when Masson would not answer the door, two other constables attended a short time later and spoke to him at the door.

Fiscal depute Carol Gammie said that Masson was “irate” and shouting and swearing and he was arrested and taken to the rear of a police van.

Masson then elbowed one officer’s chest and spat at his face twice, narrowly missing both times.

While in the back of the police van, he started making homophobic comments and called the officer a “f****** dirty f*****”.

He repeatedly stated that he would “stab and murder him”.

Ms Gammie added: “The Accused stated he was aware he had nothing to lose and that when he was released, he wanted to cause someone serious harm.

“He repeatedly shouted and swore at the female officer and called her a ‘f******
lesbian f***** slut’.

“He advised her that he had been watching her and her family and was aware of where they lived.

“He said that he was going to follow her home and rape, stab and murder her, along with any children that she had.

“He repeated multiple times that he was going to rape her along with any children
she had.”

Policewoman left ‘visibly shaken’

Masson’s “tirade” continued on the journey to Kittybrewster police station in Aberdeen.

He “continuously” made threats to rape and murder the female officer, aged 23, her male colleague and a special constable who was also present.

While outside the police station, Masson continued the vile threats, adding that he would “bite the faces off” of the three constables.

He began kicking and hitting his head off the cage in the back of the police van while “screaming that he wanted to fight with them as soon as the door was opened”.

Masson then tried to headbutt the male officer but failed to make contact.

He continued his unrelenting torrent of abuse and threats to kill.

Once in a cell, Masson repeatedly bit the male officer’s thigh while the offender was being searched.

Following the incident, the male officer said: “I have been a serving police officer for
approximately 17 years and I have never experienced conduct so abhorrent as that displayed by the accused.

“He did not desist in his heinous behaviour during the entire time he was being dealt with.”

The officer also said that he could see his female coworker had been affected by Masson’s actions because she was “visibly shaken”.

‘Mental health issues’

Masson, of the Lang Stracht in Aberdeen, pled guilty to charges of assault, assault to injury and behaving in a threatening or abusive manner.

His defence solicitor Andrew Ormiston said: “It’s recognised no one should be subjected to this kind of behaviour.

“It’s clear from the social work report that Mr Masson has a number of mental health issues, exacerbated by inappropriate coping mechanisms he’s using”.

Mr Ormiston said his client “does not have his troubles to seek” and “does not have a good relationship with the police”.

He added that he was “beginning to reduce his alcohol intake”.

Sheriff Morag McLaughlin deferred sentencing Masson until January next year.

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