Scott McLean's wife avoids jail over Facebook messages
Jennifer McLean was  given a five-month curfew order (She is pictured outside court in Glasgow)
The ex-wife of a Scottish footballer has narrowly escaped a jail sentence after bombarding his new girlfriend with online abuse.
Jennifer McLean was yesterday warned that a prison sentence was ‘justified’ after she repeatedly sent former Partick Thistle player Scott McLean, 41, obscene messages on Facebook.
Instead Sheriff Linda Ruxton imposed a five-month curfew order restricting her from leaving her home at night.
Glasgow Sheriff Court heard that McLean, 39, sent threatening messages to her estranged husband’s new partner Claire Campbell, 37, while divorce proceedings were going on.
In one post she described Miss Campbell as ‘easy’ and later posted ‘sexual’ pictures on Fa cebook she claimed were of the victim.
When police spoke to her about the vile messages she claimed she did not know that what she was doing was a crime.
McLean, of Gourock, Renfrewshire, admitted causing fear and alarm by sending messages of an ‘indecent and offensive nature’.
She also admitted posting comments that were derogatory and sexual images purporting to be Miss Campbell between April and November 2015.
Passing sentence yesterday, Sheriff Ruxton said: ‘The misuse of Facebook is serious in this day and age, and to put obscene, filthy, derogatory material such as you have done beggars belief.
‘You are an intelligent woman, you have a psychology degree, one would have thought you would have known the likely effect of this. It seems you were consumed by jealousy. You will have to look as a psychologist very hard at yourself and consider what you have done.’
Speaking outside court, Miss Campbell said: ‘It’s such a relief. She bombarded me with the most disgusting and vile stuff you have ever seen.
‘And their marriage was over â€" there was no overlap at all.’
In a message posted on Facebook, Miss Campbell, a hairdresser who lives in Glasgow, added: ‘Absolutely delighted with today’s result and being there to see justice being served. [It’s] been a long two years but worth it. Thank you to all mine and Scott’s family and friends that supported us and a new chapter can finally begin.’
Earlier, procurator fiscal depute Drew Long had told the court the couple’s ordeal began in April 2015 when McLean sent a private Facebook message to her husband about their divorce proceedings.
Later that day another messa ge was sent about Miss Campbell and ‘made reference to the fact that she had been on holiday in Turkey’. The message included the phrases ‘she’s passed about all the Turkish boys’ and ‘she’s well known for being easy’.
More offensive messages were sent in July that year to Miss Campbell, referring to the divorce proceedings between her partner and his ex-wife.
She  repeatedly sent former Partick Thistle player Scott McLean and his new girlfriend Claire Campbell obscene messages
Mr Long said: ‘Miss Campbell replied and asked Miss McLean to leave her alone and blocked the accused on Facebook. Mr McLean sent a message later that day asking that he and his partner be left alone.’
The court heard that in October 2015, more messages with ‘explicit’ pictures were sent and that Miss Campbell then contacted the police. The following month McLean posted images on her Facebook page with ‘a number of obscene images’ which she claimed were of Miss Campbell.
Police were given copies of the messages and pictures and McLean was cautioned and charged. Mr Long added: ‘The response was that she didn’t know what she was doing was an offence.’
Defence lawyer Martha Raffert y said McLean had two daughters and was a self-employed hairdresser and beautician.
Mrs Rafferty said: ‘The accused was going through a difficult time with her marriage. She thought it was a trial separation, and discovered the complainer had a relationship with her husband during this time.’
Mr McLean played for Partick Thistle, Inverness and St Mirren and was last signed by Stranraer in 2005-06.
Speaking after the sentencing, he said: ‘We are just relieved it’s all over. Jennifer got her punishment and we are now looking forward to living our lives quietly.’Â
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