A Paisley man who breached court conditions banning him from a Linwood street says he was only there to get information after his girlfriend died.
Allen Bell was described by a sheriff as having a “fairly concerning record” when he appeared before Paisley Sheriff Court on Tuesday..
The 31-year-old’s defence agent told how there was “a significant background” to the offence, which took place following the death of his partner.
Don't miss the latest headlines from around Renfrewshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.
Sheriff Lindsey Kooner heard that Bell’s girlfriend, who was then 23, passed away following a stroke suffered after she received AstraZeneca’s covid vaccine.
The accused admitted being in Linwood’s Avon Drive, on March 30, 2021, despite having agreed to appear on an undertaking at Paisley Sheriff Court on April 22 last year, subject to the condition that he did not enter the street or approach or contact two women named in court papers.
But Bell, of Paisley’s Maxwellton Court, breached the condition by turning up outside the house of one of the women while she was at home at the time, causing her fear and alarm.
Amber Feeney, prosecuting, told the court: “The accused was at the locus subjection to undertaking conditions namely that he did not contact the witnesses.
“The witness was within her home address when she heard the accused attempting to communicate with her.
“She phoned the police straight away.”
Officers traced Bell the following day.
But Bell’s defence agent said: “There is a significant background to this offence, Mr Bell had attended, it was his current partner’s home at the time and I believe they are neighbours.
“His partner died aged 23. She had been given the AstraZeneca vaccine and subsequently had a stroke and died.”
The agent told the court that Bell did not know the women but they are friends and neighbours of his late partner.
Bell’s partner , who had an “underlying condition” had died on March 25, 2021, the court heard.
He claims to have attended at the address in a bid to find out what had happened to her.
The agent told the court that Bell did not know at the time that his partner had suffered from complications as a result of the vaccine but had subsequently been told.
Bell suffers from mental health difficulties and has had problems with alcohol, the court also heard, but is currently back at work and has the issue under control.
Added the defence: “He recently celebrated one year sober”.
And he said Bell wanted to extend his apologies to the victims he was banned from approaching, saying: “He advises me that they are two young girls and he by no means meant to cause them any distress.”
Sheriff Kooner deferred sentence on Bell until December 8, saying he had a “significant record” and noted this his relationship with his late partner was “not without its difficulties”.
Download the FREE Renfrewshire Live app now for all the latest news, features and sport in your area. Available on both Android and Apple. Download here: smarturl.it/RenfrewLiveSocial
