Man on probation after threatening to murder and burn girlfriend

Feb 17 2011 Hamilton Advertiser

A MAN who threatened to murder his girlfriend and then burn her body has been put on probation.

Twenty-three-year-old Johnie Wilson was also electronically tagged after admitting two charges of making criminal threats and a charge of breach of the peace.

The accused pleaded guilty to uttering threats towards Laura Devlin by phoning her and telling her he would repeatedly stab and murder her.

The offence was committed at an address in Hozier Place, Bothwell, on August 23 last year.

He also admitted committing a breach of the peace by conducting himself in a disorderly manner, repeatedly banging on a door and uttering threats by way of a text message, placing Ms Devlin in a state of fear and alarm, at the same address on August 24.

Wilson pleaded guilty to a third charge of uttering threats to Ms Devlin’s parents – Alexander and Christine Ann Devlin – by stating that he would stab their daughter and burn her body.

He committed this third offence at the Bothwell home on October 1 last year, while on bail.

However, the Crown accepted his not guilty pleas to committing a further breach of the peace and damaging a child’s buggy at the address on August 22.

At Hamilton Sheriff Court last week, Sheriff Thomas Millar sentenced Wilson –- who lives in Lanark –- to 18 months’ probation.

Wilson was also placed on a restriction of liberty order, which states that he must remain within his home address between the hours of 7pm and 7am for a fixed period of three months.