Accused to stand trial in March on stalking charge
THE chairman of Highland League club Wick Academy was back in court today, accused of breaching a bail order imposed when he denied stalking the club president's daughter.
The conditional order was granted to Colin Stewart, 55, at the town’s sheriff court, on November 7 when he was accused of stalking Elaine Gray.
It was alleged yesterday that he had breached a special condition by attempting to contact Ms Gray, by mobile from his home at 18 Lower Dunbar Street, on January 3, which Stewart denies.
The original charge alleges that, between August 1 and November 6, he engaged in a course of conduct which caused Ms Gray fear and alarm at the Registrar Service Point, in Girnigoe Street, Wick, where she works, and elsewhere in Caithness, repeatedly followed her, approached her, and contacted her by telephone, e-mail and voice mail.
Stewart, a local businessman, of of 18 Lower Dunbar Street, Wick, pleaded not guilty and also denied a further count of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by repeatedly sending text messages to Ms Gray's father, Clair Harper, who is Academy’s president, at his home in Thurso Road, Wick. Stewart is alleged to have claimed in them that he was suicidal and threatened self harm.
He was again granted bail when he appeared from custody, yesterday, with a special condition that he does not approach or contact Ms Gray, in any way, for any reason, and replied to Sheriff Andrew Berry, that he understood.
The accused, represented by solicitor Fiona MacDonald, will return to court for his trial on March 6.