Perth abuser ‘terrorised’ ex-girlfriend from behind bars and threatened to set her on fire

A violent abuser “terrorised” his ex-girlfriend from behind bars and threatened to set her on fire in a series of sinister phone calls.

Aiden Palmer menaced his on-off partner while he was serving a 16-month sentence for assaulting her.

He told the Perth woman: “You will live the rest of your life in fear.”

The 28-year-old appeared via video at Perth Sheriff Court and admitted repeatedly breaching the terms of a non-harassment order by contacting his ex via phone and text messages, making threats and placing her in a state of fear and alarm.

The banning order was put in place in March last year, when he was jailed for brutally assaulting his then-girlfriend, her sister and the female police officer who answered their 999 call.

Fire threat

Fiscal depute Joanne Ritchie told the court: “The accused and complainer have been in an on-off relationship since around April 2020.

“In August 2021, the complainer began receiving messages and calls from the accused.”

In the first of a series of chilling texts, he wrote: “You can use your shower to put yourself out when I set you on fire.”

Palmer followed that with: “You will live the rest of your life in fear, because I’ll actually f***ing do it. I’m no scared about going to jail.”

He later wrote: “We might be done, but you are going to pay for what you done to me when I get out. That’s a f***ing promise.

“Never f*** with a man who has nothing to lose.”

Ms Ritchie told the court: “The complainer responded that she still wanted to be with him and she loved him so much. She asked him to stop speaking to her like this.”

Palmer wrote back that she would pay for what she did to him. “If it means me doing another 10 I don’t give a f***, as long as you suffer,” he texted.

The fiscal depute said: “The complainer replied stating she was sorry for upsetting him and promised she wouldn’t hurt him again.”

Palmer sent more messages, accusing his partner of cheating on him.

He phoned her and said: “I’ll f***ing terrorise you… You won’t get peace from me.”

“Due to this call, the complainer was sick with stress,” said Ms Ritchie. “She was worried what the accused would to do her.

“She thereafter contacted the police.”

Officers visited the woman and took screenshots of Palmer’s messages.

They returned in January after she received another threatening call.

“She was visibly shaken,” said Ms Ritchie.

Palmer was arrested at Perth’s Skinnergate hostel just days after his release from HMP Low Moss.

Solicitor David Holmes, defending, said that his client had been remanded in custody since his arrest.

Sheriff Euan Duthie deferred sentence for background reports until later this month.