FORMER BLACK WATCH SOLDIER JAILED FOR PERTH STALKING CAMPAIGN
A former soldier from Perth man has been jailed for an “unpleasant and aggressive” stalking campaign.John Carter’s weird behaviour included leaving a broken bike on his victim’s lawn as a “gift”.
The 52-year-old tormented the woman for more than half a year by showing up to her house uninvited, leaving her sexually aggressive letters and approaching her in a pub, while on bail.
Carter has a string of previous convictions for crimes involving domestic abuse and drugs.
> Depute fiscal Andrew Harding told Perth Sheriff Court the complainer was known to the accused and they had met twice in September 2020.
> In October, he appeared at her house and had to be removed by police, although a formal complaint was not made against him.
> He returned the next month and neighbours saw him shouting in the garden.
> The woman again declined to make a complaint.
> However, Mr Harding continued: “On December 27 Carter turned up at her house intoxicated.
> “On December 29, the complainer was going through her mail when she found a red envelope with a letter signed JC.
> “The letter called her a ‘slut’ and claimed she had a sexually transmitted infection.” > Further events involved Carter, including him returning in October 2021, contacting police, swearing at officers, and appearing in a pub under bail conditions not to contact her.
> The court heard Carter was under bail restrictions not to approach or contact the woman.
Sheriff Rory Bannerman sentenced Carter to 144 days in prison, stating: “This was an extremely concerning course of conduct.
It was apparent from the beginning the complainer wanted nothing to do with you.
I find it wholly inappropriate that a financial penalty could be imposed for this matter.
You were told you were on bail and this was a lady you were to stay away from.
She must have been terrified.” Carter, of East Methven Street, Perth, was sent to prison for 144 days.
He was also admonished for threatening a police officer.
He admitted between September 13 2020 and April 1 2021 engaging in a course of conduct likely to cause fear and alarm to his victim by stalking her.
