A controlling ex-boyfriend has been ordered to stay away from his former partner after “smothering” her with “manipulative” behaviour and 60,000 texts.
Scott Carroll, 24, appeared in the dock at Aberdeen Sheriff Court and admitted using coercive and manipulative behaviour against his former partner over a ten-month period.
The court heard the woman was made to feel “physically sick” by Carroll’s controlling behaviour, and that he had sent her 60,000 texts over a number of months.
However, Carroll’s solicitor argued that he had only sent 10,000 messages over the 10-month period libelled and that the number included “daily conversations”.
His ex-partner finally provided police with a USB stick detailing the thousands of messages she received.
Carroll pleaded guilty to one charge of acting in a manner that was abusive towards his ex-partner between June 1 2019 and April 9 2020.
He claimed partner would ‘get drunk’ and cheat
Fiscal depute Kiril Bonavino told the court that Carroll had exhibited controlling behaviour “throughout” the couple’s relationship.
He said that Carroll would routinely search through his former girlfriend’s mobile phone history, text messages, social media and internet searches to see who she had been in contact with.
“Essentially, she was made to feel guilty for contacting other persons when not with the accused,” Mr Bonavino said.
“The accused did not approve of the witness conversing with other male persons and essentially threatened to harm himself if she continued to talk to other males.
“He told her if that the relationship were to end he would jump off a bridge.”
Mr Bonavino said that at one point in spring 2019, the witness took a job and Carroll checked constantly where she was.
She said this controlling behaviour made her feel “physically sick”.
On another occasion, Carroll sent the woman a message demanding to know how she had gotten to work because “he hadn’t seen her on the road”.
Over a number of months Carroll sent the woman around 60,000 text messages, Mr Bonavino said.
The woman then went to the police and provided a statement and a USB stick with transcripts of the messages sent by her partner.
‘Essentially his whole life centered around this relationship’
Defence agent Sain Fish claimed that over the 10-month period libelled, Carroll had not sent as many as 60,000 messages, but only 10,000.
She added: “These are daily conversations as well as the text messages narrated by the Crown.
“Throughout the relationship, the accused is very clear that he is struggling with his own mental health.
“It was quite a toxic relationship and they did text each other all day and all night, hence the number of messages that are involved here.
“Essentially his whole life was centered around this relationship.
“He didn’t realise that he was using self-harm in a manipulative way at the time but he accepts that now.”
Sheriff Robert Frazer told Carroll that he displayed behaviour that “smothered” his former partner.
He added: “You have over a period of time behaved in a fashion that could be described as manipulative and coercive.
“I hope you understand that this is completely unacceptable – no one should be treated like that.”
Sheriff Frazer sentenced Carroll, of Old Station Place, Ballater, to a community payback order with 12 months of supervision and fined him £600.
He also put a non-harassment order in place meaning Carroll cannot approach his former partner for two years.
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