Tain woman who sent obscene text messages to her estranged husband's new partner, is admonished
A SHERIFF took pity yesterday on an estranged wife who sent obscene text messages to her husband’s new partner.
After hearing about Elizabeth Kidd’s difficult marital and financial situation, Sheriff Chris Dickson granted a plea from her lawyer that she be admonished.
Kidd, Duthac Wynd, Tain, appeared for sentencing at the town’s sheriff court yesterday – her 37th birthday – having previously pled guilty by letter to two charges.
She admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner at a block of flats on Tain High Street on July 7.
Kidd repeatedly banged on the communal front door of the block, where her former husband and his new partner lived. She also shouted, swore and uttered threats outside the building and sent obscene text messages to her husband’s partner.
Kidd admitted a second charge of again sending obscene text messages to the same woman five days later, on July 10.
Karen Smith, prosecuting, told the court that the texts were of a threatening nature. It was after the second incident that police were called.
Defence agent Alison Foggo said her client’s husband had left her two years ago and she lived with her children in the matrimonial home.
Kidd’s husband earned a good living in the oil industry but had made no financial contribution to his former wife since leaving.
In the run-up to the July incidents, Kidd, a Tesco cleaning manager, had learned the mortgage on her house was thousands of pounds in arrears.
Ms Foggo said: “The husband had until last summer maintained that he was keeping up payments. It was only until she received a letter threatening repossession of the house that she became aware of the true position.”
The lawyer said her ex husband taking up with a new partner proved to be the “last straw in terms of frustration and anger” for Kidd, particularly as she perceived the new woman to be meddling with her family.
Ms Foggo continued: “She went round to the flat and made her feelings plain. She is not proud of herself and is ashamed she allowed her emotions to get the better of her.
“She continued in this vein a few days later with abusive texts messages. She recognises she did not conduct herself in a mature and adult fashion.
“She is still struggling to keep a roof over the family’s head and is working six days a week to bring in as much money as possible so the house is not repossessed.”
Ms Foggo asked Sheriff Dickson: “Given the background and provocation in this case I wonder if your Lordship would consider an admonishment.”
Passing sentence, the sheriff told Kidd: “I have read the Criminal Justice social work report and listened to all Miss Foggo had to say. I did have in mind to defer sentence but I have been persuaded to draw a line under the matter today. You are admonished and dismissed.”
