A Hawick man accused of raping his friend’s partner placed an advert in a local newspaper protesting his innocence.
George Donald tried to reassure neighbours he did not have sex with the woman after the claims were aired in court by his former friend.
But before the newspaper appeared on the streets, the 35-year-old was arrested after a disturbance near his home last Thursday night.
He appeared from custody at Jedburgh Sheriff Court on Friday afternoon and denied a charge of threatening and abusive behaviour.
The saga started when Kevin Dalziel, 33, appeared in court earlier this month and admitted uttering threats outside Donald’s home after a bust-up with his girlfriend. He had accused her of cheating on him and told her she better get out of the house.
But, according to Dalziel’s lawyer, she said that she had been sleeping and woke up, only for Donald to put his hand over her mouth not to make a noise.
As a result, Dalziel told her to make an allegation of rape, but when she refused, it added to his suspicions of her role in the matter and his lawyer said: “He lost it”.
Selkirk Sheriff Court heard that Dalziel went round to Donald’s house and accused him of having sex with his girlfriend, shouting: “You s*****d her while she was asleep. You raped her. I will do you.”
Dalziel had sentence deferred until September 23 for background reports to be prepared.
Meanwhile, reports of the case appeared in the local press and although Donald had not been named, people locally suspected it was him as he was friendly with the couple and he was subjected to abuse in the street.
He even placed an advert in Friday’s Hawick News in the public notices section stating: “Please take notice that George Donald has not committed any crime against a woman in the west end area of Hawick. It was claimed by a man, in recent press reports, that George Donald had committed a sexual offence.
“George Donald has never committed such a crime, he is entirely innocent and has offered DNA testing to prove this. George Donald has been told that no complaint has been made to police about this allegation.”
However, before the paper went on sale, Donald, of Renwick Terrace, was arrested in nearby Ramsay Road and charged with shouting and swearing and making abusive and offensive comments.
He appeared in court the following day.
His lawyer, Rory Bannerman, said: “People have been adding two and two, and getting five.”
Sheriff Derrick McIntyre said: “You are being hounded, but there maybe reasons for that.
“You have a huge record and for safety I will remand you.”
After hearing his motion for bail had been refused, Donald broke down and began shouting that the woman had been lying as he was led from the dock to the cells.
His trial is due to take place at Jedburgh Sheriff Court on September 26, with an intermediate hearing on September 6.