Man in threat to ex after revving car at witness
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WICK Sheriff Court heard how a man threatened his former partner having tried to frighten a witness in another related case five months earlier.
Mark Falconer (34) admitted having behaved in a threatening or abusive manner towards Nicola Swanson and attempting to pervert the course of justice. He will be sentenced next month.
Sheriff Andrew Berry was told that Ms Swanson, who lives in Wick, had called on Falconer at his home, The Forge Reiss, on October 14 last year in connection with a family arrangement.
The court saw CCTV footage of the ensuing incident in which Falconer was seen to advance towards her, outside.
Fiscal depute Martina Eastwood said: “Ms Swanson fell backward and the accused leaned over her with a clenched fist and threatened her.”
The pair went their separate ways but Sheriff Berry heard about a separate incident earlier in the year, on May 7.
Store worker Mark MacDougall was due to give evidence against Falconer. He had finished his shift at Wick’s Tesco store and was walking towards his car, which was parked near the former Caithness Glass Factory at the time.
Miss Eastwood continued: “He happened to glance to his left and saw a car driven by the accused being driven slowly towards him. Mr MacDougall heard the vehicle being suddenly revved excessively as it accelerated harshly towards him. Mr MacDougall was frightened by this.”
The fiscal depute added that Mr MacDougall was ‘shaken’ and reported the incident to police.
Sheriff Berry continued the case until February 3 when he will consider a background report before sentencing Falconer.
Earlier, Falconer pleaded not guilty to additional charges of dangerous driving, behaving in a threatening or abusive manner and assaulting Ms Swanson.
Falconer was also accused of breaching a court order banning him from having contact with Ms Swanson.
The pleas of not guilty to these additional charges were accepted by Miss Eastwood.
Falconer appeared in court earlier in the week but was excused last Thursday, as part of the current policy to reduce the physical presence of accused persons because of Covid-19.
