Suicide threat man admits string of offences

Aug 28 2008

A BOTHWELL man threatened suicide and harassed his ex-girlfriend with texts and phone calls after their relationship ended.

Despite police warnings and court orders, Adam Norris (30), continued to pester Debbie Callaghan and her parents at their Hamilton home.

Norris and Ms Callaghan had enjoyed an 18-month relationship before they broke up in May last year.

Jim Leck, prosecuting, said Norris turned up at the address of Ms Callaghan and her parents in Greenfield Road, Hamilton, at around 12:30pm on May 19, 2007.

He spoke with Debbie Callaghan briefly but when she said she didn’t want to go with him he became aggressive and starting shouting and swearing.

Later that day, he repeatedly sent texts and made phone calls to Ms Callaghan and her parents and uttered threats of violence.

Norris told Mr Francis Callaghan on the phone “I’m going to f****** kill you, you old b******”.

Police were contacted throughout the day before officers spoke with Norris at around 12.10am, on May 20.

Norris said he would attend a police office at 2am that morning. But he didn’t show.

At about 5am, ambulance technicians and police turned up to Norris’s address in Croftbank Crescent, Bothwell, after it was feared he would attempt to kill himself.

A suicide note and a length of cable were found in the house, along with a can of CS gas.

Norris appeared in Hamilton Sheriff Court on May 21 and was bailed on special conditions that he didn’t contact the Callaghans or go to their address.

That night, around 7.10pm, Norris sent a text to Debbie Callaghan saying: “Debbie I’m sorry, so sorry. Please phone me.”

But Ms Callaghan ignored him, and Norris made repeated attempts to speak to her.

Police contacted Norris and he apologised, stating he wouldn’t contact her again.

But on June 15, Debbie Callaghan was at a friends house when she received a text from Norris, asking her if she wanted to go to a George Michael concert with him.

She ignored the text, but Norris tried to phone her several times.

Later that morning, the Callaghans were woken up at approximately 5.15am by the sight of Norris standing next to Mr Callaghan’s van outside their house.

The 30-year-old slashed two tyres of the vehicle with a knife.

Norris then made repeated attempts to contact Debbie Callaghan over two days in June.

At Hamilton Sheriff Court last week, Norris admitted a string of charges including breach of the peace and breaching bail conditions. He further admitted the illegal possession of the CS gas and a knife, and slashing Mr Callaghan’s tyres.

Defence solicitor John Paul Mowberry said the offences occurred when Norris was addicted to cocaine and was suffering from “psychiatric difficulties”.

Mr Mowberry told the court that Norris no longer takes the drug, and has been living in Scunthorpe, England, in full-time employment for the past year.

Sheriff Vincent Smith called for background reports and deferred sentence until September 30.

Norris’s bail has been continued meantime.