PAUL HUGHES SHAMES FALKIRK WITH THREATS AND STALKING AT WESTER NEWLANDS DRIVE

Paul Hughes, aged 37, made a court appearance at Falkirk Sheriff Court last Thursday to face serious allegations related to his conduct towards his former partner. Hughes pleaded guilty to charges of behaving in a threatening manner and causing fear and alarm to a woman at her residence located at 49 Wester Newlands Drive, Reddingmuirhead, during the period from October 1 to October 31 of the previous year.

According to court documents, Hughes’s actions were rooted in a tumultuous relationship that had lasted for over a decade. The woman, identified as the complainant, had been with Hughes for approximately eleven years before they separated in October 2022. The breakup appeared to have triggered a series of distressing and invasive behaviors from Hughes, which culminated in the charges now before the court.

Prosecutor Ann Orr explained that the incident was initiated when the complainant was away in Aberdeen for a weekend, accompanied by a friend. During her absence, Hughes sent her a message questioning her whereabouts and accused her of infidelity. He also monitored her movements using Google Maps, which was a key element in the case. The following day, Hughes continued to harass her by calling repeatedly, demanding to know why she was ignoring him. He accused her of no longer loving him and told her to go away and have sex with another man.

Despite the breakup, the woman returned to Hughes’s house to collect her belongings, accompanied by her mother. Upon arrival, they observed Hughes outside, shouting at her, which prompted her to leave the premises. The next day, she returned with her mother to retrieve additional items. During this visit, they saw Hughes changing the locks on the house and shouting at her, warning that she would not gain entry. Hughes also made threatening remarks about intimate photographs of her that he claimed to possess, stating he intended to share them. These photographs were known to be personal and stored on her laptop, which was inside the house with Hughes.

Further investigations revealed that Hughes had been tracking her phone’s location via Google Maps, which explained how he was able to keep tabs on her movements. This invasive behavior, coupled with his threats and shouting, contributed to the charges of causing fear and alarm. The complainant, distressed by Hughes’s actions, eventually contacted the police to report his conduct. The case highlights the serious nature of stalking, harassment, and the misuse of technology to monitor and intimidate former partners, raising concerns about personal safety and privacy in the Falkirk area.