Drinking session led to abuse of partner

A Perth man’s day-long drinking session with a friend during lockdown ended with him unleashing a volley of abuse at his partner.

And she was so alarmed that she barricaded herself - and two children - in a bedroom, Perth Sheriff Court was told.

Police attended at the flat in Scone in the early hours and found those involved were“distressed and frightened,”according to depute fiscal Lisa Marshall.

Twenty-two-year-old water hygiene technician Taran Lush subsequently spent a night in the police cells.

Currently staying in Dunnock Park, he admitted behaving in a threatening and abusive manner at a house in Catmoor Avenue, Scone, on January 27, 2021, by shouting and swearing at his partner.

Part of the charge which alleged that he threw items around the property was deleted.

The fiscal said they had been in a relationship for six years but it had been“under strain”since the lockdown started last year.

Lush had been furloughed from his job and had been“drinking alcohol on a regular basis.”

She explained:“He had been drinking with a friend throughout the day.

“About 11.30pm, they got into an argument which ended with the friend leaving.”

The accused’s mood then “deteriorated from there,”added the fiscal.

He began shouting and swearing at his partner and claimed she was “making him out to be the bad person”in the relationship.

After barricading herself in the bedroom, she contacted other family members, one of whom went to the flat about 12.45am.

The accused’s partner had subsequently contacted the fiscal’s department to say she wanted the relationship to continue.

Solicitor Jamie Baxter told the court:“He accepts he was in the wrong and apologises.”

Lush had been furloughed part of the time since the lockdown began and accepted he had been drinking more than normal.

“His partner wants the relationship to continue and he very much wants it to continue.”

Sheriff Neil Bowie told the accused his behaviour that night must have been“extremely alarming.”

The fact that she had to barricade herself in the bedroom - and call for help - would have given him an indication of how she felt.

But he deferred sentence until May 26 and ordered Lush to stay out of further trouble.

The sheriff said he was obliged to consider a Non-Harassment Order but felt it wasn’t“necessary”and he would not prohibit them getting back together as a family.