Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
‘Lengthy’ jail term for long-time abuser
A CONTROLLING abuser threatened to drop a toaster into his partner’s bath in a campaign of torment.
Christopher Bowman was told he faces a “lengthy” stint in jail after he admitted attacking and harassing his former partner over a three-month period at addresses in Dundee and Forfar.
The 35-year-old repeatedly accused the woman of being unfaithful and also threatened to steal her car and set fire to it, Dundee Sheriff Court heard.
The court heard Bowman, who has multiple previous convictions, and the woman had been in a tumultuous relationship since September 2017. She was the victim in Bowman’s last conviction in July 2019.
The pair got on well after his release from prison but the relationship soured after he slipped back into drug addiction.
She would regularly confide in Bowman’s sister for support with prosecutor Eilidh Robertson revealing Bowman attacked the woman at his sister’s home.
Ms Robertson added Bowman had previously broken two of the woman’s TVs after lashing out.
She told the court: “On one occasion, the complainer went to the bathroom and kicked down the door and said she better not cheat on him on the night out she was going on. He confiscated her phone, smashed and destroyed it.
“The accused regularly threatened to steal her car and set it on fire. He also threatened to tell her employers she was a drug user and would do something to her dogs.”
It was revealed on the day before Bowman was arrested, he tried to seize a phone from the woman and she attempted to fight him off. She was pushed against a wall which caused a mark on her head.
Bowman said he would leave if she gave him money so she transferred him £30. However, he quickly returned and forced his way into the bathroom.
Ms Robertson added: “She locked the door to have a bath. The accused used a screwdriver to unlock the door and entered holding a toaster. He said he would throw it into the bath if she refused to speak to him. She sat crying.”
Police were later called to a final incident where they observed injuries caused by Bowman pinning her down and biting her shoulder.
Bowman, a prisoner at HMP Perth, pleaded guilty to engaging in an abusive course of conduct towards the woman between February 15 and May 17.
Sheriff Tom Hughes deferred sentence until October for reports and remanded Bowman in custody.