A young father abused his partner for more than a year by means of coercive control and physical assaults.
Nathan Linden tormented his then-girlfriend and the mother of his child and demanded that she remove male friends from her social media and hand over money.
The 26-year-old also send her abusive texts and emails and on one occasion attacked her by seizing her by the throat and then her hair, Aberdeen Sheriff Court was told.
Fiscal depute Lydia Ross said the catalogue of abuse took place between April 2019 and September 2020 at the former couple’s home in George Terrace, Stonehaven.
Grabbed victim by her throat
She spoke of one occasion, on July 9 2019, when Linden took £100 from her purse before grabbing her by the hair and pushing her against a cabinet and grabbing her by the throat.
The woman suffered bruising and swelling all down one side of her body.
“The complainer terminated the relationship following this incident and thereafter had intermittent contact with him in relation to child contact,” the fiscal said.
But the abuse continued through abusive texts and emails.
On February 5 2020, Linden texted the woman calling her a “slut” and a day later she awoke to sinister messages in which he said he could see the lights were on and she was watching television.
“He preceded to accuse her of being with another man,” the court heard. “He threatened to ‘batter’ the other male and stated that he would wait outside the address all night.”
Called her vile names
In an email in July, he called her a “slutty f***** b****” and in September he told her he “didn’t have to go to court to gain access to his child” a statement the woman perceived as an intimidating threat.
After she called the police, and an investigation was ongoing, Linden sent further messages in September calling her a “rat” and a “vile disgusting slag”.
He admitted a charge of domestic abuse.
Defence agent David Sutherland said his client had shown a “poor attitude towards his offending” and a “lack of acceptance of responsibility”.
Tried to lay blame on his victim
“He has moved on,” the solicitor added. “He is in a new relationship and the alcohol issue appears to have been dealt with.
“He has started work offshore and sees that very much as a positive move forward.”
Sheriff Lesley Johnston said background reports showed Linden had tried to “minimise his part in the offending” and had “attempted to lay some blame on the complainer”.
She said his behaviour was “coercive and controlling and included physical assault” however she took into account his limited record and the fact he has been of good behaviour in the two years since.
Linden, of Balnagask Circle, Aberdeen, was handed a two-year supervision order and 180 hours of unpaid work. He must also carry out parts of the Caledonian Men’s Domestic Abuse programme and keep away from his victim for three years.
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