A brute who hounded his hero cop ex-partner is behind bars after being nabbed boozing in a Paisley pub.
Gareth Nicholas has been held on remand after breaching his bail conditions by having a drinking session with his brother in The Last Post, in County Square.
The 35-year-old had been released on bail on Friday after admitting sending abuse to police officer Carrie-Ann McNab - who saved a teenager’s life while on duty – after the pair split up.
On Saturday night, he broke his bail conditions by drinking with his brother in Wetherspoons.
The details emerged yesterday when Nicholas appeared at Paisley Sheriff Court.
Procurator Fiscal Depute Claire Rowan said: “Police had reason to speak to the witness Alan Nicholas, who is the accused’s brother.
“He stated he was staying at his brother’s and provided police with an address.
“Police carried out a Police National Computer check and showed the details of the bail conditions in place.
“Police took the accused’s brother to the address provided and knocked on the door, but there was no reply at the door.
“He provided a description of the accused and explained the accused had been sitting within The Last Post.
“Police attended at The Last Post and spoke with the manager.
“CCTV was recovered which showed the accused and his brother in the company of each other, between the hours of 7.05pm and 8.56pm, and both were consuming alcohol.”
Nicholas was traced at his home on Sunday and officers were able to identify him as the same person they
had seen on the CCTV footage.
Nicholas - who was ordered by the sheriff to stay out of Scotland unless he was appearing at court - first began his catalogue of abuse in February.
He sent PC McNab, who lives in Barrhead, “messages that were grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character.”
Nicholas, previously of Henry Street, Barrhead, also went to Ms McNab’s home and threw a brick through a window.
He was released on bail, with special conditions not to approach or contact PC McNab or enter her home street.
But he was arrested again after it emerged he had subjected his ex to fresh abuse this month.
He pleaded guilty to a charge of breaching bail conditions by hounding PC McNab with telephone calls, text messages and messages on various social media
sites between August 9 and 12.
On Thursday, Nicholas was released on bail again after pleading guilty to the latest offences.
Defence solicitor Philip Rooney told the court that Nicholas had not realised the time when he was
caught boozing on Saturday night.
He said: “He appeared in this court on Thursday and Friday and pleaded guilty to a number of matters and sentence was deferred.
“He was released on bail to the homeless unit in Paisley and wasn’t in when the police called.
“His only explanation is as narrated - he was drinking with his brother and lost track of the time.”
Sheriff Tom McCartney said: “Clearly bail is not appropriate - you’ll be remanded in custody.”
Nicholas, who has also lived in Newcastle, is set to learn his fate over all matters next month.
