JOHN LAWSON'S SHOCKING CRIME IN DUNDEE AND PERTH: TAXI INCIDENT ON A90 LEAVES WOMAN IN TEARS
A sheriff has publicly condemned John Lawson, a man described as a “thoroughly unpleasant” individual, for his violent and aggressive behavior during a taxi journey that took place between Perth and Dundee.The incident, which occurred on the busy A90 dual carriageway, involved Lawson forcibly snatching his partner’s mobile phone from her hand and then discarding it from a moving vehicle, causing distress and chaos on the road.
Lawson, aged 42 and residing on Broughty Ferry Road in Dundee, appeared before Perth Sheriff Court to face charges related to domestic abuse and threatening conduct.
He pleaded guilty to a charge of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner during the taxi ride through Perthshire, which was aggravated by the domestic relationship between him and the woman involved.
Despite the seriousness of his actions, the court decided against imposing a custodial sentence.
Instead, Lawson was sentenced to 250 hours of unpaid community work.
Additionally, he was ordered to stay away from his ex-partner for a period of two years under a non-harassment order.
This decision was made despite the woman’s opposition to the order, as she had requested that the case be dropped.
Sheriff Lindsay Foulis did not hold back in his remarks about Lawson’s character.
He described him as “a thoroughly unpleasant individual” and expressed concern about Lawson’s attitude towards women.
The sheriff stated, “The impression given by both the offence and the content of the social work report is undoubtedly that, as far as females are concerned, you are a thoroughly unpleasant individual.
You consider that you are the person in control and that if you say jump, a woman’s response should be how high?” He further commented, “There is a huge temptation as far as I am concerned to take your liberty away,” indicating the gravity of Lawson’s behavior.
The sheriff also suggested that Lawson’s attitude was likely ingrained, noting, “You are 42 now and I suspect that this attitude is already well ingrained in you.
No matter what I say today won’t make a blind bit of difference.
You will probably leave here and mutter something derogatory under your breath about me.
Hey ho, that goes with the territory.” During the hearing, the court was told that Lawson’s actions caused significant emotional distress to his partner.
On May 31, at Perth railway station, a taxi driver observed Lawson’s girlfriend standing outside, visibly upset and crying while speaking on her phone.
Lawson approached her and asked for a lift to Dundee.
The driver agreed, and Lawson sat in the front seat while his partner entered the back.
According to the prosecution, the woman was still upset and on her phone when Lawson questioned her about who she was speaking to.
She responded that she was talking to her father and then ended the call.
At that moment, Lawson suddenly moved between the front seats, seized her mobile phone, and went through its contents before throwing it out of the taxi window.
This incident happened while the vehicle was traveling along the A90 near Glendoick Garden Centre.
The taxi driver then pulled into the next layby, and Lawson exited the vehicle.
He drove off, leaving his partner stranded at the side of the road.
The woman was subsequently taken to her home, visibly distressed by the incident.
In court, the woman expressed her opposition to a non-harassment order and contacted authorities to request that the case be dropped.
Her solicitor, Paul Ralph, acknowledged that the phone was recovered and was intact, suggesting that the relationship might still be salvageable despite the incident.
Overall, the court’s decision reflects a recognition of the seriousness of Lawson’s actions, but also a hope for rehabilitation, with the imposed community service and restraining order serving as measures to prevent further harm.
