Domestic assault was caught on camera

A Kinross man rekindled the relationship with his “on-off” girlfriend in the weeks leading up to last Christmas.

But an argument broke out between the pair over money - and 52-year-old Thomas Murray “forcibly pushed” her on the chest.

The victim ended up on her back in the doorway of a local chemist - and the accused walked off.

But the domestic assault was captured on the pharmacy’s CCTV and he was later traced at his home.

Murray, of the town’s High Street, was left counting the cost when he was fined £540 at Perth Sheriff Court this week.

He admitted assaulting his partner at Rowlands

Pharmacy, High Street, Kinross, on December 2, 2019.

Imposing the penalty, Sheriff Gillian Wade noted that the accused’s record was of “some vintage.”

But she added: “Any type of domestic violence is not to be tolerated and I will impose a substantial fine.”

Depute fiscal Matthew Kerr said: “The complainer and the accused had been in an on-off relationship for the past four years.”

But they had got back together and they had left the accused’s address about 3pm that afternoon.

“As they were walking to the chemist an argument started over money owed to the accused by the complainer.

“The complainer walked off from the accused and said their relationship was over.”

Murray then caught up with the victim at the doorway to the chemist.

“This gave the complainer a fright and, as she turned round, the accused pushed her further into the shop.” That caused her to “fall over onto her back.”

When officers spoke to the accused at his home, he claimed that they had “reconciled their relationship.”

But solicitor Paul Ralph told the court: “The pair of them are no longer together. She’s in a relationship with somebody else.”

Murray was currently receiving £300 a month in Universal Credits and was allowed to pay the fine at £20 a month.