A Perthshire firefighter is to stand trial accused of 16 years of domestic abuse against three women – including allegations that he placed tracking devices in one woman’s phone and laptop and hid a “voice-activated dictaphone” in her car.
Alistair Foggo is understood to be suspended from his post with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service ahead of his trial over the allegations next month.
Dundee Sheriff Court heard today that one of Foggo’s alleged victims had made 36 separate allegations against him.
He is first accused of assaulting Jennifer Barnes, his then partner, at an address in North Berwick between November 1 1994 and June 30 1995 by striking her on the face, struggling with her and pinning her to the ground all to her injury.
A second charge alleges that between January 1 1997 and December 30 2001 at addresses in North Berwick he attacked Sally Pound and struck her on the face, and that on one occasion between January 1 1998 and September 30 2001 he punched her on the face causing her to fall to the ground.
Prosecutors say that Foggo then carried out a nine-year campaign of abuse against Jacqui Foggo at addresses in Livingston, Perthshire and Blackpool.
He is accused of conducting himself in a disorderly manner towards her and committing a breach of the peace between September 1 2001 and June 30 2010.
It is said he repeatedly called and sent messsages to her to check on her whereabouts, repeatedly called her offensive names and made abusive comments towards her, repeatedly accused her of being unfaithful to him and repeatedly seized her telephone to check her calls and texts.
Foggo is said to have then hidden a voice-activated dictaphone in her car as well as placing tracker devices in her mobile phone and laptop, before denying her access to mail, money and refusing to let her go out with friends.
A fourth charge alleges that between July 13 2002 and June 30 2010 he assaulted a boy, born in 1999, by repeatedly striking, kicking and punching him on the head and body, and on one occasion throwing a glass at him.
He is further accused of placing a hot metal spoon on the back of the boy’s hand to his injury and permanent disfigurement.
A final charge alleges that between September 1 2010 and June 30 2010 Foggo assaulted Jacqui Foggo by throwing a bottle of water at her, repeatedly seizing her and throwing her down a flight of stairs and repeatedly throwing items at her.
He is also said to have struck her with a roll of bin bags and repeatedly placed a hot metal spoon on her bare skin.
Foggo, 46, of Mill Street, Stanley, Perthshire, denies the five charges against him on indictment at Dundee Sheriff Court.
Paul Parker Smith, defending, asked for a further pre-trial hearing next week to allow the defence to put together a full defence witness list and await a decision on whether they can instruct counsel.
Sheriff George Way continued the case until next week.