Husband fined for racially abusing his wife

A husband who used racial abuse towards his wife was upset because he felt she had used him to gain a visa, a court has heard.

Michael Munro used an offensive term towards his wife, threw his glasses at her and swung his crutches at her as their relationship deteriorated.

He also left comments on her Facebook page claiming that she was “a con” and he was “the idiot that fell for it”.

Munro, 55, was not present at a sentencing hearing at Tain Sheriff Court having previously admitted racially aggravated threatening or abusive behaviour as well as a subsequent breach of bail conditions preventing him from contacting his wife.

The charges related to incidents in 2020 and 2021.

Fiscal depute Hilary Michopoulou told the court that Munro had shouted racial abuse at the woman while she was cutting the grass, as well as swinging his crutches at her.

One incident was sparked when “the complainer suggested to the accused that they tell Highland Council that she was living with the accused”.

“The accused became angry,” Mrs Michopoulou told the court.

It was after this incident that the woman made a complaint to police and Munro was arrested.

Solicitor Cecily Kingston explained that the racial comments made were “part of a crude dynamic between the pair”.

“He accepts that his comments were unacceptable,” she added.

Sheriff Gary Aitken fined Munro, of Teaninich Street, Alness £420 and placed him on a community payback order with 12 months of supervision.

He also made a nonharassment order for the same period, barring Munro from contacting the woman.