Prisoner phones friend to 'batter' witness

Aug 15 2008 by Our Correspondant, Dumfries Standard Friday

A 20-YEAR-OLD man who phoned a woman from prison asking her to “batter” his former girlfriend to stop her giving evidence against him, has been sentenced to 14 months’ detention.

John Trainer, described as a prisoner at Dumfries, admitted the attempt to pervert the course of justice during a telephone call from the prison to Kerry Dunbar at the beginning of June.

At that time he knew that Dian Clark had given a statement to the police and would be cited as a witness against him.

He also admitted that three weeks earlier, at Summerville Avenue in the town, he assaulted Dian Clark by repeatedly punching and kicking her on the face and body.

Depute procurator fiscal Bob Morrison said that the woman had heard knocking at her door and found Trainer there who pushed his way in.

She ran to a neighbour’s home after he began to punch and kick her and the police were called and found Trainer asleep in the house.

The call from prison had been recorded in which he had basically said he wanted his former girlfriend battered.

Solicitor Bill McVicar said Trainer regretted his action and the call was made in the heat of the moment.