Jail for stalker who made abusive phone call

May 8 2008

A CONVICTED stalker who made an abusive phone call to a Motherwell solicitor has been jailed for two months.

Martin Docherty (38), of Campbell Street, Hamilton, called an employee of Bruce McCormack on Saturday, April 5, and swore at him.

By making the call, Docherty breached a non-harassment order, which was imposed in August 2005 after he admitted a breach of the peace.

This is not the first time the 38-year-old has breached his order.

In February, Sheriff Bryan Adair sentenced Docherty to 18 months’ probation.

One of the conditions of the order stated that Docherty should attend alcohol counselling.

He was placed on probation after he admitted threatening and intimidating staff of the Lanarkshire law firm.

He repeatedly phoned and texted employees of the Motherwell solicitors between May and November 2007.

He also admitted shouting, swearing and threatening lawyers and their staff.

Docherty further threatened to slit the throat of a female member of staff.

It is understood that Docherty had been pestering staff at the solicitors for over six years, making thousands of phone calls and texts, including calls to mobile numbers during the night.

Docherty has also been said to hang about outside the Merry Street firm’s offices.

He has a long criminal record and previous convictions include assault, housebreaking and breach of the peace.

At Hamilton Sheriff Court last week, Docherty appeared in the dock for the latest breach.

He has been in police custody since the beginning of April.

Sheriff Daniel Kelly QC sentenced Docherty to two months in prison.

The Sheriff backdated the sentence to April 7.