Teenager's chilling threats to Helensburgh ex after break-up

Maxwell Farquhar repeatedly contacted his former partner by text message, Snapchat and other social media networks – and chillingly told her he would “need to take action” unless she took him back.

He also sent an email to the girl’s father, alleging that his daughter was in a sexual relationship with one of her work colleagues.

Farquhar, 19, appeared at Dumbarton Sheriff Court on Friday for sentencing after pleading guilty to engaging in a course of conduct which caused his former partner fear or alarm between June 1 and September 3 last year.

Farquhar admitted refusing to stop when asked to do so, emailing both his ex and her father, and in the course of all his communications repeatedly referring to his ex in offensive and abusive terms.

A background social work report was provided to Sheriff John Hamilton prior to Friday’s hearing.

Fiscal depute Gemma McKechnie said: “The complainer was 17 at the time and was in a relationship with the accused.

“They had known each other for approximately four years, but the relationship ended in June 2018.

“Following the break-up the accused continually sent messages to the complainer requesting that she take him back. These were all refused.

“She asked him to stop, but the contact didn’t stop.

“On August 13 the complainer contacted police regarding the messages from the accused. She said he hadn’t taken the break-up well and was contacting her through various social media platforms, trying to convince her to get back together with the accused.

“Thereafter she blocked him, on all platforms, but the accused still managed to find ways of messaging the witness, who received messages on Snapchat in which the accused said he would ‘need to take action’.

“He would turn up at her work or her parents’ address. The complainer ignored the messages, but the accused them contacted the complainer’s father, informing him of an alleged sexual relationship the complainer was having with another work colleague.

“At this point the witness contacted police, who were shown screenshots of Snapchat messages in which the accused used terms including ‘bitch’ and ‘get back with me and I won’t have to threaten you’.

“He was arrested and warned to have no further contact.”

Ms McKechnie described one further email from Farquhar to his ex, sent on September 3, in which he said: “I don’t expect a response, I just wanted to apologise for everything – I can’t say I’m your biggest fan, I’m sorry for all that happened.”

Ms McKechnie said: “The complainer was extremely agitated and upset. She was scared the accused would turn up at her university.

“He was arrested and conveyed to Clydebank police office, where he said ‘I don’t think it was an alarming email but I can see why she was alarmed’.”

Farquhar’s solicitor, Jonathan Paul, said: “His reaction to the end of the relationship was completely immature and he will now have the stigma of a criminal conviction.

“The reaction of the complainer, and the email to her father, have to be taken into account as well.

“This has been an extremely stressful case for him but he does appreciate the stress it will have caused the complainer.”

Mr Paul suggested deferring sentence for six months to enable his client to show he could avoid any further offending.

Sheriff Hamilton told Farquhar: “What I’ve heard has been very troubling.

“It’s difficult to imagine how distressed a 17-year-old girl could be after being pestered, stalked and bullied by an emotionally stunted idiot like you.

“I’m not conviced you actually understand how serious and inappropriate this is.”

Farquhar, of Colquhoun Street in Dumbarton, had his sentence deferred for six months for him to be of good behaviour.

He was also handed a non-harassment order banning him from having any form of contact with his ex until 2022.