A stalker left a chilling hand-written message draped across his ex-partner’s windscreen.
Construction worker Christopher Fowler scrawled the words ‘narcissistic lover’ in thick black marker pen on material covering his former girlfriend’s car.
The message was left as part of an abusive course of conduct against his ex, over several days in late 2022.
Perth Sheriff Court heard the 40-year-old turned up at her house in Perth uninvited with a hammer and Stanley knife.
He also made a series of threats against her and her son, telling them: “You have no idea what I am capable of.”
Fowler was jailed in 2010 after he forced his way into another ex-girlfriend’s house in Edinburgh and was found hiding under her bed.
When he appeared in the dock last month and admitted a domestically-aggravated charge of stalking, he was told the chances of avoiding prison again were “remarkably slim.”
However, returning to court for sentencing last week, he was instead placed on supervision for two-and-a-half years and ordered to wear an electronic tag as part of a five-month Restriction of Liberty Order.
He must also carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and engage in the two-year Caledonian programme for domestic offenders.
Fowler was also ordered to stay away from his Perth ex and her son for five years.
Frightening experience
Sheriff William Wood described Fowler’s conduct against his former girlfriend at her home in the city’s Letham area as “sustained and persistent.”
“You went back and continued to make a nuisance of yourself.
“That must have caused a great deal of concern.
“While I accept you probably did have a hammer with you as part of your work, there was no need to take them out.
“The fact that you did that at her house would have been frightening for her.”
The sheriff added: “Given your record, custody was uppermost in my mind.
“However, you have spend 132 days in custody and it seems to me that you ought to be given an opportunity in the community.
“It needs to be robust sentence and in the event of any breach, I will consider custody again.”
Turbulent relationship
The court previously heard Fowler and his ex were in an on-off relationship for about eight years.
Days after he was dumped in November 2022, he turned up at her home unannounced and left her menacing voice notes.
He said in one message: “I’m the reason you’re s***ting your pants right now.
“You have no idea what I’m potentially capable of.
“Well, you are about to f***ing find out.”
His lawyer said he had “difficulty dealing with emotions while in a relationship”.
She said he also has issues with drug and alcohol abuse.
“He is extremely motivated to make lasting changes but he is well aware he cannot do that without support.”
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