Council / Woman told to be of good behaviour after causing fear and alarm
Sheriff Cruickshank comments on post break-up disagreements that end up in court
A WOMAN from Voe who engaged in a course of conduct which caused fear and alarm to two other people has been ordered to be of good behaviour for six months.
Leann Ramsay, 46, of Mulla, was also placed under a non-harassment order. She admitted the charge when she appeared at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Thursday.
The offending, which spanned a 14-month period from 17 January 2023 to 17 March 2024, included persistently contacting the two people through phone, social media and email, in the course of which she shouted and swore, uttered threats and made derogatory or abusive comments.
It also included monitoring their movements, contacting the family of one of the complainers to make derogatory comments and verbally abusing one of the pair in Lerwick.
Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said the woman had been in a relationship with one of the complainers for a number of years – with the second complainer being his new partner.
However, he said a “fairly toxic situation” transpired.
When speaking about the effects of her behaviour on the complainers, Mackenzie said “debilitating is maybe an understatement”.
Defence agent Tommy Allan described the couple’s break-up as “messy” and one that greatly affected his client.
However, she accepted she said and did things she was not proud of, he added.
Allan also said Ramsay had no intention of having direct contact with the two complainers again.
Sheriff Ian Cruickshank deferred sentence for six months to allow Ramsay to be of good behaviour.
A non-harassment order prohibiting Ramsay from approaching or contacting the two complainers, unless through a third party in relation to child welfare matters, was imposed for two years.
MEANWHILE sentence has also been deferred for six months for a man from Lerwick who admitting shouting and swearing at his ex-partner.
Paul Grant, of Hill Grind, appeared at Lerwick Sheriff Court to admit a charge which alleged engaging in a course of behaviour which was abusive to an ex-partner between 17 May and 22 May last year.
The charge included repeatedly making phone calls to the woman, in which he shouted and swore, and shouting and swearing at her on two other occasions.
Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said the 37-year-old had been in a relationship with the complainer a few years prior to the offence, and changes to childcare arrangements had caused some of the upset.
Defence agent Tommy Allan said Grant had accepted his conduct was “not ideal” and was embarrassed by the offence.
During sentencing Sheriff Ian Cruickshank remarked that it was the second case in court on Thursday which had referenced post break-up arrangements for children.
He said he is “all too aware” of the topic having sat in civil court hearings.
Commenting generally, the sheriff said that “far too often parents weaponise their children” in disagreements with ex-partners.
He encouraged anyone to first seek the help of mediation services.
Referring to Grant’s case, the sheriff decided to defer sentence for good behaviour for six months.
Consideration of a non-harassment order was also continued, however bail with conditions restricting communication will remain in place.
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