Man sent death threat texts to ex-partner

Dec 18 2009 by Lisa Boyle, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

A YOUNG mum was sent a string of chilling messages from

A YOUNG mum was sent a string of chilling messages from her ex-partner claiming he would murder her.

Vile William Govan bombarded his former fiancee’s phone with texts threatening to rip her throat out.

Govan, 28, also told the terrified woman she wouldn’t be hearing from the couple’s daughter.

He is now beginning a nine-month prison sentence after admitting the sick campaign.

Ayr Sheriff Court was told that the couple had been in an on/off relationship for seven years and have a child together.

The couple split up in October this year and Govan moved out of the family’s Ayr home. Then on the morning of October 17, the woman started receiving a series of threatening messages.

The comments included: “The first time I see you I’m gonna rip your throat out. I’m going to kill you. I’m getting you slashed.”

Govan later sent a text message telling her she would not be hearing from their daughter, who was in his family’s care at the time.

Depute fiscal Erin Campbell told Sheriff Carole Cunningham: “She was alarmed and concerned for her daughter. So much so that she contacted the accused’s sister to check that her daughter was ok.”

The woman contacted the police at 4pm that day when she returned home to find Govan and a friend outside her house.

He was demanding access to their daughter.

When he was interviewed by officers, Govan was asked if he had any intention of carrying out his threats.

He bizarrely responded: “No, I love her. I wouldn’t do that to her.”

He pleaded guilty to sending grossly offensive and menacing messages to his former partner.

A defence lawyer for Govan told the court: “He was upset by the break-up. He is very embarrassed by his behaviour and very remorseful. He sent a text message later to apologise.”

Govan, now of Ayr’s Glendale Crescent, was on probation for possession of a baseball bat at the time of the offence.

Jailing Govan for nine months, Sheriff Cunningham told Govan: “The social enquiry report about you does not make for good reading.

“You have consistently failed to engage with the services offered to you and social work express reservations about your motivation.

“This offence was unpleasant in the extreme and very threatening for this woman.”