STEWART HOUSTON STALKER FROM BONNYBRIDGE SENTENCED IN STIRLING COURT

A builder from Bonnybridge has been sentenced to prison after engaging in a disturbing campaign of stalking against a female client over a period of two months. Stewart Houston, aged 37, was found guilty of harassing Victoria Roy, a businesswoman, following her decision to dismiss him from a job at her livery yard. The court heard that Houston’s actions escalated from persistent messaging to repeated physical surveillance, causing significant distress to Ms. Roy.

According to court records, Ms. Roy, 33, who had recently separated from the father of her three children, initially contacted Houston after being recommended by an acquaintance for a building project. Houston visited her property in Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire, to assess the work, and although he did not provide an immediate quote, an agreement was made that he would submit one before commencing any work. The following day, Houston returned to the yard and deposited a quantity of building materials, despite no formal agreement on the cost.

Prosecutor Kyrsten Buist explained that Houston began carrying out work without a finalized price, which made Ms. Roy uneasy, fearing she might be billed for unauthorized work. After several attempts to clarify costs, Ms. Roy eventually allowed him to continue with the project. During this period, she began to suspect that Houston harbored romantic interest in her, although it was noted that he did not make any explicit advances. An exchange of vehicles also took place, with Ms. Roy lending Houston her horse box to transport materials, and Houston lending her his BMW X5.

As the work progressed over approximately three months, Ms. Roy grew increasingly dissatisfied with certain aspects of Houston’s work and asked him to cease his activities. Houston responded by texting her that he would come to collect his belongings, but he was advised not to return unless he was there to retrieve the horse lorry. Despite this, he returned to the yard, taking his BMW and leaving behind a Saab vehicle. Over the following days, Ms. Roy observed Houston repeatedly driving past her farm in his BMW or tipper lorry, performing U-turns and then driving away, which caused her to feel terrified and afraid to leave her home.

Houston’s relentless messaging, including threatening comments about needing a will if she pursued legal action for the return of her horse lorry, further heightened her fears. Ms. Roy perceived these messages as threats, adding to her distress. Houston, of Wallacestone, Falkirk, pleaded guilty to stalking Ms. Roy between November and December 2015. In addition, he admitted to stalking another woman, 38-year-old Tracey Gow, after their brief relationship ended in October 2016. Ms. Gow described Houston as extremely intense and revealed that he had moved into her home in Skinflats without her consent. She found his behavior invasive and told him she did not want to continue their relationship.

Despite her clear boundaries, Houston kept her house key, and when she asked for it back via text, he responded, “Your house keys are my house keys.” He also appeared uninvited at a pub where she was out, claiming she owed him money, and posted offensive messages on Facebook, calling her “Tracey Gow Cow.” Ms. Gow reported feeling harassed to the extent that she had to change her locks and eventually move away permanently. She also discovered that Houston had made a verbal offer to buy her house when she put it on the market.

During the court proceedings, defense solicitor Hazel McGuinness explained that Houston believed he was owed money and that the breakdown of their business relationship contributed to his actions. She acknowledged that his behavior was entirely unacceptable. Sheriff Wyllie Robertson sentenced Houston to 17 months in prison. In his sentencing remarks, the sheriff highlighted the profound psychological, psychiatric, and financial impact Houston’s conduct had on Ms. Gow, emphasizing the seriousness of his actions and the need for appropriate punishment.