Army doctor denies domestic bullying

A high-ranking Army doctor, accused of subjecting his wife to a year-long campaign of domestic bullying, has told a court he found evidence of an alleged affair while searching the internet for a butter chicken recipe.

Lieutenant Colonel Simon Bloodworth, 48, arranged an interdict against his wife Lisa, 51, after he discovered a history of online searches for jobs and housing in the Cheshire area, where he knew she had a male friend.

Lt Co Bloodworth, 48, is on trial at Perth Sheriff Court accused of using controlling and coercive behaviour.

It is alleged he controlled her finances, banned her from going back to work and had knowledge of passwords to her devices and social media accounts.

He denies abusive behaviour in Scotland and Germany between April 1 2019 and April 6 2020 and threatening to kill their pet dog.

Lt Col Bloodworth said he was at home in Invergordon when he suspected his wife was having an affair.

“I went online to look for a recipe for buttered chicken,” he said. “I had used the recipe so I went into the browser history and looked over the last 10 days.

“There were multiple searches for housing and jobs in Cheshire.

“I knew she had a male friend in Cheshire and she had been searching for jobs and things in the area where he lived.”

A later argument led to the comment about the dog, he said.

“Our chihuahua was jumping up on me and jumping onto my iPad.

“I was getting frustrated. I said: ‘Oh for God’s sake, would you stop it? I will take you out into the woods and shoot you.’

“That was not a credible threat.”

The trial, before Sheriff Neil Bowie, continues.