Subjected partner to hours of sickening abuse

A transport manager subjected his partner to hours of abuse during a drink and drug-fuelled rant at a house in Kinross.

The Hallowe’en get-together turned into a nightmare when 33-year-old Stephen Mackenton accused his girlfriend of cheating on him, Perth Sheriff Court was told.

He began behaving aggressively, smashed his own phone and started punching the outside walls of the house in McWilliam Place, Kinross.

She became upset and denied his claims but when they were in a hot tub about 11pm, he again repeated his accusations.

During the tirade, which lasted until 5am the following morning, he called her a“whore and a slut”.

Mackenton was fined £600 and had a Non-Harassment Order imposed, banning him from contacting the female for the next two years.

Noting he had a number of previous convictions for domestic-related incidents, one involving a knife, Sheriff Neil Bowie told him:“This conduct continued, it would appear, over a number of hours.

“It was no doubt triggered by your consumption of controlled drugs and alcohol - and was erratic behaviour.”

Mackenton admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by repeatedly shouting and swearing at his partner at McWilliam Place, Kinross, on October 31 last year.

Depute fiscal Lisa Marshall said they had been in a relationship since last April.

It was“initially good but then deteriorated.”

She added:“The accused and the complainer had friends round to the house and a large quantity of alcohol was consumed.”

After the incident in the hot tub, she went for a short walk to calm down.

“When she returned, the accused was crying and apologised but again accused her of cheating.”

She tried to go upstairs to bed but he followed her and continued shouting“in the same manner.”

At 5am on November 1, the female and a friend managed to make their way out of the house but Mackenton “still continued to shout and swear,” stated the fiscal.

“She terminated the relationship and contacted the police.”

Solicitor Pauline Cullerton said her client confirmed that it was over and there had been no further contact.

“The relationship will not resume in any shape or form,”she stated.

“Alcohol had been consumed and cocaine had been placed in his drink.

“He had his suspicions she had been cheating on him.

“There was an argument and he behaved in the manner to which he has pled guilty.”

Mackenton, of North Junction Street, Edinburgh, will pay the fine at £100 a month.

He admitted a number of previous convictions although the last was in 2014.