A stalker who sent chilling text messages threatening to murder the object of his affection has narrowly avoided jail.
Christopher Jamieson waged a twisted campaign against Angela Russell – alternating between seeking her affections and uttering obscenities against her and her family.
Elgin Sheriff Court heard that Jamieson and his victim were little more than acquaintances when he began bombarding her.
In one alarming text, the 30-year-old made reference to Ms Russell having recently visited her parents’ graveside and said she “would be joining them soon”.
Sheriff Chris Dickson said he was only “just persuaded” not to incarcerate the accused.
Instead, Jamieson was sentenced to 300 hours of unpaid work as part of a community payback order and barred from attempting to contact Ms Russell for three years.
The sheriff told him: “You don’t have a relationship with Ms Russell and you need to get that into your head.”
Jamieson, of Flat A, 8 Nelson Terrace, Keith, sent the texts between Sunday, March 1 and Tuesday, March 26 last year.
He admitted causing Ms Russell fear and alarm by threatening her with violence if she didn’t talk to and engage in a relationship with him.
He also accepted charges of threatening to kill her and her family.
Fiscal Kevin Corrins said: “There was no build-up to any form of relationship at the time.
“Ms Russell thought these texts were particularly odd.”
In his first message, Jamieson referred to himself as Ms Russell’ “boyfriend” and advised her to “watch herself” if she did not respond.
A further message that night warned of “consequences” if Ms Russell continued to ignore his advances.
Further communication throughout the month became more threatening.
Jamieson said he had “planned” to make Ms Russell’s phone disappear “along with her”, so the messages could not be traced.
He was eventually arrested on Friday, March 27.
Solicitor Robert Cruickshank said his client was “a hard drinking man” who had been intoxicated when sending the “inexplicable” texts.
He added: “These were mixed messages, expressing affection in amongst nasty ramblings.”
Sheriff Dickson said he “could easily” have imprisoned Jamieson, and told him: “Stalking is very serious, and your conduct was distressing for your victim – particularly when referencing her children and deceased parents.”
Reports showing Jamieson “expressed regret” and now posed “minimal risk” helped persuade Sheriff Dickson not to jail him.
Nasty string of messages
Elgin Sheriff Court heard that Ms Russell was subjected to an increasingly nasty string of messages.
It was 6.26pm on Sunday, March 1, when the first of several arrived.
The message read: “Hey honey, I’m home. What’s for tea, sexy? You can’t even invite your boyfriend for tea? OMG you have a lot to learn. If you don’t talk to me, you better watch yourself.”
The message also contained “bizarre” references to Jamieson “having an alibi” for offences he may have planned to commit.
Three hours later, having received no response, he sent another message.
It read: “Hey sexy, I’m off to bed. Got a lovely lady to keep me company. Don’t get jealous now, beautiful. She’s here as my alibi, I’m one step ahead lol. You have 10 minutes to text me and if you don’t you will take the consequences. Don’t dream about me too much.”
At 7.42pm on Tuesday, March 10, Jamieson sent another chilling message.
“You think you’re so smart ignoring me, but you won’t be ignoring me when you’re dead,” it said.
“If I can’t be with you then no-one else will, and I will kill you to make sure of it.”
Another sent on Tuesday, March 24, added: “You really have no idea what you’ve done to me. You swan around like
you’re it. You’re getting it. I know exactly what you’re up to, and I’m livid.”
A final text on March 25 forced a panicked Ms Russell to call the police.
The text said: “You can’t even reply to me. Well, fine. It won’t be long until you see your parents anyway.”
