Man given 18-month order for abusive behaviour

A man has been given an 18-month non-harassment order preventing direct contact with his former partner.

Daniel James MacKinnon, 33, of Soroba Road, appeared for sentencing at Oban Sheriff Court on Tuesday August 25.

He was charged with engaging in behaviour which was abusive towards his former partner Sarah Louise MacPherson between September 4 and October 11 last year at Rhuvaal Road, and at the North Pier car park, Corran Esplanade.

It included repeatedly making telephone calls, attending the garden of a house on Rhuvaal Road and loitering there, attending the car park and repeatedly shouting at her and uttering abusive and offensive remarks, and posting an offensive remark on Facebook.

Solicitor Edward Thornton told the court his client had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and had been of good behaviour ever since.

MacKinnon had ‘well and truly learnt his lesson,’ Mr Thornton told the hearing and had not had any contact with his ex-partner.

The defendant had been dealing with matters now in the ‘proper way’ by instructing solicitors and trying family mediation, said Mr Thornton.

However, Mr Thornton told the court that MacKinnon’s former partner had ‘refused to co-operate or facilitate’ with family mediation which had broken down.

Mr Thornton said a non-harassment order was unnecessary as his client was well aware that he was required to ‘avoid her’ at all costs.

Sheriff Patrick Hughes told Mr MacKinnon that the charge before the court was ‘significantly less serious’ than before and that he did not expect the defendant to contact his former partner.

However, Sheriff Hughes also said it was a ‘domestic offence’ and that reports had indicated a ‘medium risk’ of reoffending.

Sheriff Hughes said he was required to impose the order and that there should be no contact other than through third parties to arrange child contact.

‘Social media is very dangerous and you would be well advised not to say anything about her,’ said Sheriff Hughes.

‘Make sure you are never in any position where something could be misconstrued,’ he said.