Accused in break-in at mayor's house says he went to get belongings

The man accused of threatening the Toronto mayor's life says he went to Rob Ford's home early last Wednesday only to ask for help getting some belongings, including a television, back from his ex-girlfriend, Mr. Ford's sister.

Scott MacIntyre said in an interview at the Toronto detention centre where he is being held that he received a call from someone saying that Kathy Ford was selling his stuff. He had been living with Ms. Ford, but moved out when they broke up a couple of weeks ago, he said.

"I just wanted my stuff," Mr. MacIntyre said Thursday. "I want nothing to do with these people."

But Ms. Ford called Mr. MacIntyre's version of events "absolutely not true." She said he didn't have many belongings in the first place, that what they shared for years during their volatile relationship was hers. "It was my home. ... I took care of him, that's the bottom line," she said.

Police were called to the mayor's home last week by a neighbour who said there was a suspicious vehicle outside.

In front of his home, speaking to reporters hours later, Mr. Ford declined to say whether he knew the man who allegedly tried to force his way in. Before Mr. MacIntyre's identity was known, the mayor described him as an "unwelcome visitor" who "took off."

On Thursday, the mayor's office declined to comment on the nature of Mr. MacIntyre's visit or why the mayor didn't immediately explain to the public that he knew the 45-year-old alleged intruder.

"The issue ... was handled by the appropriate people, which was the Toronto police," said Sunny Petrujkic, the mayor's interim spokesman. "It was a breach in security at the mayor's house and that's the end."

Mr. MacIntyre has been charged with two counts of uttering death threats, and one count each of forcible entry, possession of heroin and possession of cocaine.

It isn't the first time he's been in trouble.

He pleaded guilty in the United Kingdom to trafficking cocaine in 1992 and served two years in an English jail. It wasn't long before he was back in front of a judge. In 1999, he pleaded guilty after a police sting uncovered his role in a plot to traffic more than 50 pounds of hashish.

In 2005, he found himself back in police custody after Ms. Ford was shot in the face at her parents' home in Etobicoke, where the mayor hosts his annual summer barbecue.

She was rushed to hospital. Mr. MacIntyre and another man were arrested shortly after and charged with a variety of gun offences plus the theft of Ms. Ford's mother's Jaguar. All of the charges against Mr. MacIntyre were later withdrawn by the Crown's office. The other man was convicted of possession of a handgun.

Ms. Ford, who has had a long struggle with drug addiction, was back with Mr. MacIntyre three years after she was shot at her parents' home.

In 2008, the couple were arrested in Vaughan and accused of stealing licence plates, as well as possessing stolen baby formula, razor blades and tools for the purpose of executing break-ins. All charges against Mr. MacIntyre were withdrawn. Ms. Ford was sentenced to 15 days in jail after she pleaded guilty to stealing the licence plates and possessing the stolen baby formula.

Mr. MacIntyre said Thursday that in recent years he'd been getting his life back on track and had been working.

About two weeks ago, he said, he began staying in a Toronto-area hotel after he and Ms. Ford split.

With reports from Greg McArthur, Patrick White and Shannon Kari