BEST-SELLING author Janice Galloway has told of her relief after she won a court order banning her ex-lover from contacting her for 10 years.

 

Concert pianist Graeme McNaught, 55, has twice walked free from court on charges of stalking Miss Galloway despite subjecting her to years of harassment.

The writer resorted to launching a civil action against McNaught and has now seen him hit with a lengthy ban on approaching her.

Miss Galloway, 60, of Uddingston, Lanarkshire, said: "I am pleased, and hugely relieved, there has been some redress following the ordeal of two separate court cases which returned verdicts of culpability for harassment over what is now a 17-year period.

"A grant of order for 10 years is unusual, I believe, and allows time for Mr McNaught to put in place some useful measures against it happening again."

At a hearing at Hamilton Sheriff Court lawyers for Miss Galloway asked for the banning order following a string of criminal hearings in the past year.

McNaught, of Mount Vernon, Glasgow, has twice walked free from trials after concerns were raised over his mental health.

In May a jury took less than an hour to acquit him on the grounds of insanity. McNaught was held in a psychiatric unit but allowed to return home after a sheriff heard he had responded well to treatment.

And last year an examination of facts heard a sheriff rule McNaught had carried out a campaign of stalking against Miss Galloway but his health prevented action being taken against him.

McNaught, who was not at the most recent hearing, had not opposed the non-harassment order which was granted by Sheriff George Jamieson.

He will now face criminal proceedings and possible jail time if he breaks the order.

Miss Galloway, author of novels The Trick is to Keep Breathing, Foreign Parts and Blood, has called for changes to the law on stalking and said she hoped her victory would help other victims.

She added: "This redress, however, was found via civil court only. Had I not been eligible for legal aid to pursue things in this way, it would have been unaffordable.

"This makes me worry for most others in what was my position. I am further well aware that criminal court would again be where things were referred following any rearrest, which may only lead to another poor fit with existing criminal law.

"I hope this does not happen. Better still, perhaps some change following cases of stalking which recognises the victim as central may be found.

"More people than me are affected by the failures I have met. It would be good to feel the criminal cases had at least some possibility of lasting use for the future."

Miss Galloway had earlier told how she felt "suicidal" as McNaught repeatedly tried to contact her.

She also revealed she feared being a victim of "revenge porn" after McNaught threatened to publish naked photographs of her pregnant.

The couple, who have a son James, were in a relationship for around six years before separating in 1996.

Miss Galloway told the court case earlier this year that she was left at "breaking point" because of his behaviour. She also told the court McNaught said he only wanted to contact his son but had carried on contacting her even though James now lives in London.

She added: "I thought when James became aged to be contacted himself at 16 that this would all stop but we are now six years on and it is still happening.

"I have spent nearly two decades trying to get Graeme to stop contacting me. I do not want anything from him and when I do get something it is extremely distressing.

"He pretends he has a good reason for contacting me but I can't see it. He would also contact people I know and try and make me professionally toxic."