Former oil boss ordered to stay away from wife after throwing baby changing mat at her

A former oil firm boss has been ordered to stay away from his wife after he threw a baby changing mat at her.

John Gibson got drunk during the festive period and turned on his wife, telling her “it’s all your fault” before throwing the changing mat at her.

The 70-year-old was supposed to be abstaining from alcohol but had started drinking again during the festive period.

Gibson was arrested in January this year when he was found to be more than three times the legal drink-drive limit.

He pleaded guilty to one charge of assaulting his wife by throwing a baby mat at her.

Accused told wife ‘it’s all your fault’

Fiscal depute Kiril Bonavino told the court that on January 4 this year Gibson’s wife was in the couple’s bedroom taking a lateral flow test when her husband entered.

He said: “She was waiting for the results when the accused came in and started touching the tests.

“She did not like this and told him so and at that point, he threw a baby changing mat without warning and said ‘it’s all your fault’.

“The baby changing mat hit the complainer on the shoulder and the top of the head.

“The accused then left the room shouting and swearing.”

‘He lost not only his business but also the family home’

Defence agent Debbie Ginniver told the court that Gibson had a “longstanding addiction to alcohol” that had impacted his life.

She also stated that he had run a successful oilfield services company for 25 years until the oil and gas downturn.

“This has caused him to suffer financially and he has applied to declare bankruptcy,” Ms Ginniver said.

“He lost not only his business but also the family home and turned to alcohol.

“This has caused more problems than it solved and has caused massive strain on his marriage.

“He made a massive error in judgement and he has taken responsibility for his actions.”

Sheriff Kevin Duffy told Gibson: “It is a sad state of affairs for you to be in and I understand you have issues with alcohol but you cannot behave in this manner.”

He sentenced Gibson, of St Nicholas Drive, Banchory, to a community payback order with two years of supervision and 100 hours unpaid work.

A non-harassment order was also put in place requiring Gibson to stay away from his wife for 12 months.

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