A stalking victim felt unnerved when the man he’d been involved in a financial fallout with repeatedly drove past his Portlethen home late at night.
Leigh Inglis’ sinister actions were caught on his victim’s doorbell security camera and due to “previous animosity between the parties” police were called.
Inglis, 29, admitted a stalking charge and was fined £350 at Aberdeen Sheriff Court.
But his victim has blasted his tormentor’s punishment, referring to the sentence as “obviously not fitting” for the ordeal that his family was forced to live through.
The man, who did not wish to be named, told The Press and Journal: “I feel guilty was the only justified court outcome, but the punishment should have been a lot more”.
He claimed his partner was initially left so fearful she would not walk to her car alone after work and has since insisted on stepping up security at their home.
“We have had to install additional security at the house and my partner is still on edge when a vehicle that sounds like Leigh’s drives down our street,” he added.
In court, fiscal depute Tom Proctor said there had been a history of a financial fallout between the two men.
Court told of financial fallout
The court heard Inglis was first spied on CCTV driving past the man’s house once on August 15 last year at 10.30pm.
He was then caught again three nights later, at 10.15pm, 12.15am, and the following morning at 9.30am.
The family were alerted to his late-night visits through Ring doorbell alerts but they were also alarmed to see Inglis parked nearby watching their house.
“Due to the previous animosity between the parties, the complainer contacted police as he was worried the accused would do something further,” the fiscal added.
“Police were contacted and the accused, who was again observed driving in close proximity to the locus, was traced.”
His defence agent Iain McGregor told the court there was a “fairly significant history” between the pair.
“This was basically a financial matter,” he said. “There had been a dispute between the two which had been ongoing for a considerable time. This was not all one-sided.
“Sometime before this offence, possibly in July, the complainer had attended at Mr Inglis’ address with a number of other males.
“I am told they were wearing balaclavas at this stage. The information I have is that police were involved in that and the complainer was charged with certain offences.”
Inglis’ victim confirmed that those charges were almost immediately dropped and he has no active cases involving Inglis.
Inglis previously taken to court to repay debt
The money row between Inglis and his stalking victim dates back to 2018, when the offender borrowed £7,000 from the man.
He used the cash injection to set up an unsuccessful vehicle powder coating company that he called King Coatings.
But around six months later, the entrepreneur began selling up and still owed money to his disgruntled lender who took Inglis to court to recover his losses.
On 18 March 2020, Sheriff Ian Wallace ordered Inglis to repay the man “£4,085, plus interest and expenses”.
But Inglis tried to overturn his order “after the time limit for doing so,” the sheriff said, adding: “The respondent gave a number of reasons for his failure to engage with these proceedings.
“He acknowledged that he had, to a large extent, ‘buried his head in the sand’.”
Offered to pay fine from mum’s pocket money
During Inglis’ sentencing for his disturbing stalking behaviour, his defence lawyer Mr McGregor added: “He stupidly did what he did and has no explanation for that.”
But it’s not the first time that Inglis has been in trouble with the law.
The solicitor added that Inglis has previous convictions, mostly for road traffic offences.
And in November last year, he was fined £290 after he was reported for shouting and swearing at the Morrisons in Inverurie.
According to a court document, Inglis behaved in a “threatening or abusive manner” and it was claimed that his outburst “was likely to cause a reasonable person to suffer fear or alarm”.
Speaking about his client’s current situation, Mr McGregor added: “He lives with his partner and children and is currently unemployed.
“His partner is in full-time employment and Mr Inglis receives a monthly allowance of £400 from his mother.
“He could pay a fine at a rate of £50 per month,” he added.
Sheriff David Sutherland ordered Inglis, who gave his former address of Fairway Avenue in Inverurie – but actually lives at St Colms, Daviot – to pay a fine of £350.
Failed businesses
Inglis, a 29-year-old failed businessman who is financially reliant on his mum, has previously been registered as a director of three companies operating in the north-east.
But no annual confirmation statements or accounts were ever filed for Union Garage, Foveran Garage and FRESH COMPS LTD.
All three businesses were removed from the register at Companies House after Inglis was served with notices for compulsory strike-off.
The companies, which each lasted no longer than two-and-a-half years, have all since been dissolved.
Inglis has also been linked with other unregistered business ventures – including LSW Garage/L.Inglis Garage services and Terraclean Aberdeen North/Grampian Fuel Drain.
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