Wick court hears that new partner 'tried to make peace pact' with alleged stalker
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A sheriff has heard how a man attempted to make a peace pact with an alleged stalker.
A man we are referring to as Mr Y, who set up home with Alan Bain’s ex, suggested the two men could still be civil to each other – but his good intentions failed, Wick Sheriff Court heard on Wednesday.
Bain (34) denies charges of stalking and abusive behaviour and breaching bail between April 2018 and March 2021. Mr Y said he made the peace bid after Bain followed him and his partner, Miss X, into Wick. Both vehicles stopped outside Meiklejohns shop in Thurso Street.
Mr Y told the court: “I got out of my car and asked Bain what he was doing following us. Bain replied ‘I am just keeping an eye on things’.
"I was apprehensive but was not looking for trouble and made it clear that I didn’t want any issues between us, and hoped that we could pass in the street and wave to each other.
"Even if we couldn’t be friends, we could at least be cordial. Bain was agitated and pacing back and fore.
"He tried to discredit my partner. That is what he has done before. I was trying to calm things down and said I didn’t want any trouble.”
Mr Y said at that moment a work colleague of his appeared and wanted to know if everything was okay. “Bain put on a pretence of being charismatic for a few minutes and left.”
Earlier, Mr Y told Sheriff Donald Ferguson that he and Miss X began a relationship in the spring of 2018. He had separated from his wife and Miss X had split from “a volatile and violent” relationship with Bain.
She previously told the court that her troubles didn’t end with the separation and she constantly felt on edge and “walking on eggshells” each day because of Bain’s unwelcome behaviour.
Mr Y told the court that they didn’t talk about their previous relationships as they wanted to focus on their new partnership. Mr Bain was living in the same Caithness village at the time. Mr Y said they had not gone out of their way to make their relationship known but that changed.
Mr Y said he saw a text from Bain which was intended for Miss X. Mr Y said he replied to Bain: “It is not her because she is with me.”
He told the court that things escalated after one particular phone call and added that abusive calls, texts and WhatsApp messages to Miss X began and, in one of them, Bain told her: “You won’t get a penny out of me.”
On another occasion, Mr Y said that he pulled up at their then home in the village and heard Bain shouting at Miss X.
Mr Y said he intervened and told Bain: “You don’t get to speak to her like that” and tried to resolve the issue but Bain went off.
On another occasion, Mr Y said he pulled into their then home and saw Bain walking about. “Bain turned the corner and there was a flash – he had taken a photo of me.”
Mr Y went on to describe a further occasion when he witnessed Bain “creeping around our house late at night”.
Mr Y said that there were other occasions when Miss X and himself were being followed by Bain and he was asked by Fiscal Sue Foard about how they felt about it.
Mr Y replied: “We were anxious. It is not normal behaviour.” He said they found Bain’s conduct "intimidating".
Mr Y said he observed the accused passing the house on another occasion and described it as “a continuation of Bain’s snooping”. Mr Y commented: “Bain should not have been doing that as he was on bail and I don’t believe he was allowed in the village.”
Questioned by Miss Foard, Mr Y referred to a conversation he had had with Bain, in a park. Mr Y said: "I told him he was a domestic abuser. He seemed to find it funny, something of a joke." Bain is said to have replied 'yes' or 'yeah' and laughed, adding: "It is her that makes me like that," referring to Miss X.
The trial session concluded yesterday and further evidence will be heard in June.
