AN ACID attack threat stalker who told his terrified ex-girlfriend he would burn her face with a corrosive chemical concoction has had his sentencing postponed.
James McEwan — who also posted so-called ‘revenge porn’ on Facebook — must wait to learn his fate after a sheriff queried whether there is a sexual element to his offending.
The Telegraph told last month how McEwan, 30, conducted an 82-day campaign of abuse against the Inverclyde woman following the break-up of their 11-month relationship.
He told his victim that he’d take a sword to her private parts and hack off her breasts if she met anyone else — then later posted a series of intimate pictures of her online.
At the latest calling of the case, prosecutor Colin West told Greenock Sheriff Court: “It is the Crown’s position that both the threats of sharing images, and sharing without consent, was done with malicious intent to degrade and abuse her.
“The accused was motivated by humiliating her.”
McEwan — who committed his offences between May 27 and August 16 last year — set up a fake Facebook account in his ex’s name and uploaded 17 private photos of her to the profile.
Fiscal depute Mr West said: “The sexual element here is indeed significant.”
Defence lawyer Edel McGinty described McEwan’s actions as ‘vile’ and ‘deplorable’ but argued that his offending was not sexually motivated.
Miss McGinty said: “Parliament felt that revenge porn does not merit significant sexual gratification. This case lacks a significant sexual aspect.”
“Revenge porn in itself does not attract notification (to the Sex Offenders Register).
“You have got threats, and the whole purpose behind his behaviour is for contact.”
Sheriff Derek Hamilton, pictured, deferred sentence on McEwan, whose address was not given in court, until February 26 and further remanded him in custody.
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