A scorned brute followed his ex-partner while she was on nights out, doing the school run and when she went for a meal with friends at Linwood Farm.
Twisted Steven Dickson repeatedly turned up at his ex-partner’s house uninvited, repeatedly phoned her, followed her in his car and took intimate photographs of her and posted them on Facebook.
The 45-year-old threatened to put a petrol canister and a lighter through his ex-partner’s window and on one occasion, called her over 40 times – only stopping when she answered the phone.
Dickson, appeared at Paisley Sheriff Court via video-link from HMP Low Moss where he admitted the vile course of conduct that took place between March and December 2022 at various places in Erskine, Glasgow and Linwood.
Once cops arrested the thug on October 27, last year, he resisted arrest, shouted, swore and thrashed his legs around.
Prosecutor Michael Cunnigham explained that the woman was at her home in Park Gate in Erskine, asleep on August 10, last year, when Dickson phoned her at 1am.
Mr Cunnigham explained: “Dickson stated he was coming to her home and she asked him not to do so.
“A short time later, the complainer heard a male shouting her name and looked out the rear bedroom.
“She then heard a loud bang which sounded like the back door being kicked.
“The terrified woman then opened her bedroom window to see who was there and she observed the accused who stated, ‘I’m coming in, you’ve got someone in there.’”
Dickson then repeatedly called the woman till around 3am and then attended at her property again around 11am.
Mr Cunnigham added: “The witness observed the accused outside her back garden.
“He stated to her to make sure all her windows were shut at night and she jokingly said he wouldn’t fit through them.
“Dickson then stated: ‘I know, but a petrol canister and a lighter will.’
“This made her fearful and she contacted police.”
The court heard how the couple were at the Malmaison Hotel in Glasgow on Sunday, March 13, last year and their relationship came to an end in July 2022.
The fiscal depute added: “In August 2022, the accused attended at the complainer’s home and they began arguing and he stated, ‘I’ll exploit you with pictures on the internet just long enough for people to screenshot them.’
“He then showed pictures on his phone of her, passed out on a bed while they were within the Malmaison Hotel in March.
“She was in her underwear and she advised that the accused must have removed her clothing and took the pictures without her knowledge.”
Mr Cunnigham explained how Dickson “creeped” the woman out on August 16 by “loitering” behind her back garden.
And on August 17, he followed her in his silver Mercedes while she was doing the school run and then when she went to Morrisons in Erskine’s Bridgewater Shopping Centre.
Dickson then called the woman around 40 times on August 21, only stopping when his former partner answered.
Court was told: “When she answered the phone, the accused sounded under the influence, then went on to state, ‘Do you want to laugh down the phone at me? See how smart you are, keep an eye on Facebook.’
“Dickson hung up and a few minutes later the woman got a message from a friend advising the accused had posted pictures of her on Facebook.”
The court also heard how Dickson followed the woman and her friend on August 27 when they were on a night-out in Glasgow and on August 30, he followed her and other friend’s to Linwood Farm where he “repeatedly” drove around the roundabout while looking into the premises.
Mr Cunnigham told how on November 28, the woman received a call from HMP Low Moss and on answering, realised it was Dickson.
He added: “On December 6 she called the prison asking for her number to be removed from the call list.
“Between November 5 and December 20, the complainer received over 100 calls from the accused.”
Defence agent, Tony Callaghan insisted the court would be “assisted” by background reports and reserved mitigation.
Mr Callaghan made a motion that Dickson was released on bail for the preparation of the reports.
Sheriff Bruce Erroch KC deferred sentence for the preparation of a criminal justice social work report and a restriction of liberty order assessment until March 20.
Dickson’s application for bail was refused and he was remanded meantime.
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