Torrent of abuse at pregnant partner
A Perth man, said to previously drink a litre of spirits a day, unleashed a torrent of foulmouthed abuse at his pregnant partner in a late-night rant at the flat they shared.
But the expletive-laden catalogue of aggressive and demeaning comments was recorded by his downstairs neighbour who then contacted the police.
It led to 29-year-old Scott McGregor, of Moulin Crescent, appearing in the dock at Perth Sheriff Court last week.
The court heard he had previously been put on probation - and ordered to complete unpaid work - for a previous domestic-related incident in 2010.
Sheriff Lindsay Foulis noted that he had been drinking a litre of spirits a day at that time but had attended only three out of the 10 alcohol counselling sessions he was to have taken part in.
The probation order was eventually revoked - albeit four years later - and McGregor was jailed for four months.
McGregor had a two-part community payback order imposed as a “direct alternative” to prison on Wednesday, September 9.
He will be supervised by a social worker for a year and will have to complete 90 hours of unpaid work in the next six months.
He admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner towards his partner at their home in Moulin Crescent, Letham, on July 14, 2020.
He repeatedly shouted and swore, adopted an aggressive demeanour and then made derogatory remarks to her.
Depute fiscal Malcolm Sweeney said the pair had been partners for about 18 months and were also living together at the time.
“The time of the offence was about 11.15pm,” he explained.
The accused was shouting and swearing, and called the victim a ‘fat, f***ing slag’ and ‘a fat, dirty slapper.’
Mr Sweeney added: “This incident was recorded by a witness who lives directly below the accused and the complainer.
“It was that particular witness who contacted the police.”
The fiscal said the recording contained abusive terms similar to the ones narrated. She could also be heard responding in similar language.
McGregor was traced the following day and admitted that what he did was “wrong,” adding that he shouldn’t have acted the way he did.
Solicitor Stuart Hamilton said his client accepted his actions were “inappropriate.”
He added: “There was no question there had been a heated argument on both sides.”
There had also been simmering tensions between the pair because of the downstairs neighbour and that had “caused friction” between the parties.
Bail conditions imposed following his first court appearance on August 25 had banned him from the Moulin Crescent address but that had been relaxed and he had been able to return home.
“There has been no further incident and the relationship continues,” added the lawyer. “This has been a wake-up call for the accused.”
Sheriff Foulis pointed out that it had been only a few weeks since the bail review.
“One swallow doesn’t make a summer. Let’s not guild the lily,” he said.
Imposing the order for unpaid work, Sheriff Foulis added: “The bottom line is he’s been there before and knows what will happen if he breaches the community payback order.”