A Campbeltown mother posted a video of herself on social media threatening a sex offender that if they did not leave the town within 24 hours, she would burn them alive.
When police arrested her after a tip-off about the Snapchat post, she told them: “I am sorry for my choice of words. I just want a character like that out of town. My kids walk up that way and I have a daughter who is 15 years of age.”
Procurator fiscal depute Rebecca Reid told the October sitting of Campbeltown Sheriff Court: “She said that she would return within 24 hours and burn them alive. She had videoed herself doing this and posted the video on Snapchat for friends and followers to see.
“The following day, the police received information from an anonymous source and were able to identify the accused and she was arrested later that day.”
Alyson McKinven, aged 32, of 1 St John’s Place, Campbeltown, was before the court for two separate incidents.
She admitted that between September 1 and 5 this year, she posted a video on social media where she attended at an address in the town and shouted and swore at the occupant, demanded they leave Campbeltown and uttered threats of violence should the occupant not comply.
McKinven’s defence agent Stephen MacSporran told Sheriff Euan Cameron that the reason she acted this way was detailed in her social work report and the cause of her reaction to discovering that a registered sex offender had come to live and work in the town.
“This [property] was opposite a play park,” he added.
McKinven also admitted that on April 9 last year she assaulted police officers in the execution of their duty; repeatedly kicking one officer on the body to their injury and kicking another to their injury and also attempting to bite their hand.
This happened on Cross Street, Campbeltown, and she also pleaded guilty to assaulting the two officers by kicking them on the body at Campbeltown Police Station.
The fiscal said that officers had reason to arrest McKinven for a separate incident and, while being arrested, she kicked out at one officer and, when another was in the police van cell with her, she kicked and attempted to bite that officer on the hand.
“On arrival at Campbeltown Police Station, while being processed, the accused again began kicking out, striking both police officers,” the fiscal added.
Mr MacSporran said in her defence: “She recalls very little as alcohol had been taken. In respect of trying to bite, she objected to being restrained. She realises that this was an unacceptable way to act.”
Addressing her impulsive behaviour, Mr MacSporran said McKinven needed some support in her life; she also had children who depended upon her.
The sheriff said her behaviour was “appalling”, adding that her impulsive behaviour was “deeply selfish” as it did not consider what would happen to her children if she was jailed.
“I would be under no criticism if I sent you to prison today,” he added.
For assaulting the police officers, he placed McKinven on a community payback order, as an alternative to custody, for two years, to include supervision and rehabilitation, alongside which she must carry out 160 hours of unpaid work in the community in a satisfactory manner. She was also placed on a 7pm-7am restriction of liberty order for six months.
Sheriff Cameron deferred sentence for the other offence for three months for McKinven to be of good behaviour.
“You have no right to take the law into your own hands,” he said.
The case will call again in January.