A terrified woman ran from a Perth block of flats in just pink pyjamas and socks after neighbours reported hearing a “blood-curdling scream.”
A witness saw the woman being chased by her boyfriend Peter Alexander.
Just weeks earlier, he had been ordered by a court to stay away from her.
Alexander narrowly avoided being sent to prison when he appeared at Perth Sheriff Court and admitted acting in a threatening or abusive manner towards his victim at the city’s Kirkgate Mews on October 24.
He also admitted breaking a bail condition not to approach his partner, when he visited her flat on November 25.
Sheriff Gillian Wade told him: “You are running out of options.”
Witnesses ‘watched in fear’
Procurator fiscal depute Sarah Wilkinson said at about 12.45pm on October 24, witnesses heard a man shouting from inside the city centre property.
They looked up to see Alexander and the woman standing at a window.
“They watched in fear as the accused aggressively screamed at (the woman),” the fiscal depute told the court.
“He then punched the window a number of times, causing damage.
“The accused then continued to scream at (the woman), before disappearing out of view.”
Ms Wilkinson said police were contacted, while Alexander continued screaming.
When he was cautioned and charged, Alexander replied: “This is bulls***.”
Following the incident, Alexander was released on bail but ordered to stay away from his partner.
Another argument
Ms Wilkinson said the woman was at her flat when Alexander arrived about a month later.
“She had made arrangements to meet the accused, on the understanding that bail conditions had been dropped,” she said.
“But this was not the case.”
An argument erupted between the two.
“(The woman) said the argument began because she was not dressed to go out with the accused,” said Ms Wilkinson.
A neighbour then heard “a blood-curdling scream”.
“She dialled 999 and asked for police assistance,” the fiscal depute said.
“During the argument, (the woman) ran into the street to get away from the accused.
“She was screaming that she was going to call the police unless the accused left.
“(The woman) was observed running away from the block of flats, with the accused chasing her.
“He was saying: ‘She’s crazy, she’s over-reacting’.”
Ms Wilkinson said: “(The woman) was seen wearing pink pyjamas and socks.
“The accused fled the location but he was traced sometime later behind a sofa within (the woman’s) living room.”
He told police: “I thought my bail conditions had been lifted.”
Bail review
Solicitor Pauline Cullerton confirmed there was a bail review on November 5 but Alexander’s application was refused.
The sheriff imposed a restriction of liberty order, meaning he will stay home between 8am to 5pm when he works nights.
She told Alexander: “You can see that you are running out of options.
“You are now in a very dangerous position because any breach of an order will undoubtedly lead to a prison sentence.”
Sentenced was deferred on the bail breach charge for three months, to give Alexander the chance to prove he can stay out of trouble.
