East Dunbartonshire man jailed for hounding ex with abuse

An accounting manager who bombarded his ex-lover with abusive messages from unknown numbers and social media accounts has been locked up.

Andrew McNicol, also known as Andrew Jolly, turned on the woman between January and August 2019 from his home in Bishopbriggs, East Dunbartonshire.

The 30-year-old former telecommunications worker used his skills to create fake numbers and hounded the woman with calls.

He also created bogus social media profiles which contained personally abusive language and sent friends requests to her.

McNicol later used a pre-booked golfing trip to pretend to keep tabs on the "terrified" victim who was walking in the same park with her dog.

McNicol pled guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to stalking and breaching a non-harassment order and was remanded in custody.

The court heard McNicol and the woman were in a relationship between November 2017 and summer 2018 which initially ended on good terms.

McNicol was convicted of stalking the victim in January 2019 and was ordered by court to seize all contact with her for five years.

Five days later, the woman received multiple messages on her mobile phone from an unknown number.

This continued for three days before the victim changed her number.

One of the many calls included McNicol breathing heavily before he ended the call.

The unknown numbers - most of which the woman blocked - were recognised by their unique area codes.

Prosecutor Sarah Latta added: "She was aware McNicol could generate numbers as he worked in a telecommunications company."

The ordeal forced the woman to isolate herself from her friends and family.

The police were contacted and officers were able to trace the numbers and the IP address used to McNicol who lived at his father's address.

The woman continued to receive multiple friends requests on social media apps, Snapchat and Instagram.

The usernames to the accounts were insults including "chubby s***" and "I hope you kill yourself."

McNicol then threatened to send an intimate picture of the woman to her place of work.

He later sent an apologetic message stating: "I love you and still do, I hope you understand, I can't keep going on like this any longer."

McNicol later sent a follow up message saying that she deserved it.

He then wrote: "If you are wondering why c*s are staring at you at work tonight, it's because they know what you are, I hope you have a s** life you s***."

Despite contacting the police again, the woman received more abusive messages from accounts on social media in March 2019.

The victim also received messages from an account claiming to be McNicol's girlfriend.

This included a video of McNicol and the victim together while they were in a relationship.

Miss Latta said: "The woman knew this was an attempt by McNicol to contact her."

McNicol was also aware that the victim walked her dog twice a day in a park in Glasgow's east end.

When walking with a friend, McNicol created social media accounts which made reference to her being in the park and sent friends requests to them.

Miss Latta said: "The woman was petrified and believed McNicol was following her."

This occurred on consecutive days in May 2019 but she was unable to locate McNicol when looking out for him.

The woman temporarily deleted all social media in July 2019 but McNicol continued to send her friends messages.

Officers finally arrested McNicol at his home in December 2019.

John McLaughlin, defending, told the court that McNicol was in the park on both days as he was playing a pre-booked golf match with his cousin.

The lawyer stated the offences occurred when McNicol was on a change of medication.

Mr McLaughlin added: "He is in employment as an accounting manager in an international firm for tax consultancy and began that employment in June 2021.

"They are aware of his criminal record and the current process.

"He is aware that prison is the most likely outcome, he is a very good job and a very good career...he knows he needs to be punished for this."

Sheriff Johanna Johnston QC told McNicol that he had a "shocking record" and that she was not satisfied that could remain on bail.

Sentence was deferred until next month pending background reports.

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