RICHARD MEADE'S CRUEL CAMPAIGN IN PERTH: EX-PARTNER HARASSED AND DEFRAUDED

A man named Richard Meade, previously employed in the banking sector, has been found guilty of a prolonged and malicious campaign of abuse and financial deception against his former partner in Perth. The court proceedings revealed that over a span of approximately 20 months, from April 2019 to December 2020, Meade engaged in a series of aggressive and manipulative actions aimed at controlling and harming his ex-partner.

According to evidence presented at Perth Sheriff Court, Meade subjected his former partner, a fitness instructor, to relentless harassment. He bombarded her with thousands of messages, many of which were intrusive and distressing. Additionally, he made repeated unannounced visits to her workplace, including Perth High School and Perth Theatre, causing her significant emotional distress. Witnesses at these locations described how Meade parked outside the school but did not leave his vehicle, and how he approached her at the theatre, which left her visibly upset. Despite his claims that a small child was with him during these encounters, no witnesses corroborated this.

During the trial, Meade attempted to minimize his abusive behavior. He claimed that his actions were motivated by a dispute over a gym membership refund at Fit 4 Less on Perth’s Canal Street, where he allegedly reported his ex-partner for not paying tax, asserting that he did so because of his background in the financial industry. He also tried to deny responsibility for a mobile phone seized by police, claiming it was a gift from his partner and not purchased on credit in her name. However, evidence showed that Meade had set up a credit account linked to his phone number, email, and bank account, and that he was in possession of an iPhone associated with that account at the time of his arrest. The victim was unaware of this account until she received a bill demanding payment.

The court heard that Meade also committed fraud by opening an online account in his ex-partner’s name with the retailer Very, through which he purchased mobile phones and accessories on credit. The first indication she had of this fraudulent activity was when she received an invoice from the company demanding payment. This act of financial deception added to the pattern of abusive conduct.

Judge Neil Bowie dismissed Meade’s explanations as lacking credibility and noted that his behavior was out of character for the victim, highlighting the emotional toll inflicted upon her. The court found that Meade’s actions constituted an offence under the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act. As part of the sentencing process, scheduled for October, a non-harassment order was issued, prohibiting him from contacting his ex-partner for two years. The court’s decision underscores the seriousness of his conduct and the impact it had on the victim’s well-being.