JONATHON CLAY FROM FORT AUGUSTUS SENTENCED AFTER DOMESTIC ABUSE AND HATE MESSAGES

A man diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, who became embroiled in a disturbing domestic abuse case, has been sentenced to serve time in custody following a relentless campaign of harassment against his estranged wife. Jonathon Clay, aged 44 and residing at Abertarff Place in Fort Augustus, was found to have repeatedly violated court orders that prohibited him from making contact with his wife. Despite these legal restrictions, Clay continued to send a barrage of offensive, menacing, and sexually inappropriate messages over a span of three months, demonstrating a blatant disregard for the law and the safety of his former partner.

The case was brought before Inverness Sheriff Court, where Sheriff Gary Aitken made the decision to revoke Clay’s bail. The defendant was remanded into custody until January 30, with the purpose of undergoing assessment and possibly participating in intervention programs aimed at addressing domestic abuse behaviors. The court heard detailed accounts of the disturbing messages sent by Clay, which included threats such as, "You would be better off dead," and "I hope you have a painful death." He also issued threats to burn her house down, further illustrating the severity of his threats.

In addition to threats of violence, Clay expressed hope that his wife would develop terminal cancer, and during police interviews, he admitted to wishing he had never engaged in such conduct, claiming, "They were just words. I went a bit far." His wife was subjected to a relentless stream of over 400 messages, many of which were of an offensive and sexual nature, sent between October 12 and November 14. These messages included derogatory comparisons, insults about her weight, and repeated offensive names. The harassment escalated when Clay was recorded outside her residence on a scooter, filming her without her consent, which prompted police intervention.

During the court proceedings, defense solicitor John MacColl explained that Clay’s alcohol consumption, which he used as a coping mechanism for his MS, contributed to his behavior. However, MacColl acknowledged that given the gravity of his actions and his repeated breaches of court orders, custody was a likely outcome. Prosecutor Karen Poke highlighted the threatening and degrading nature of Clay’s messages, emphasizing that his failure to adhere to legal restrictions only heightened concerns about his conduct.

The court recognized the seriousness of the offences committed by Clay and indicated that a custodial sentence was a real possibility. While the probation service’s intervention programs were considered, they were not the primary focus at this stage, given the severity of the case and the need for appropriate legal consequences.