A man has been ordered to stay away from his ex-girlfriend after carrying out a campaign of violent abuse and telling her “I will do whatever I want”.
Scott Kinghorn, 21, appeared in the dock at Aberdeen Sheriff Court and admitted assaulting and being abusive towards his former partner at several locations across the north-east over a four-month period.
It was stated that Kinghorn struck the woman so hard outside NOX nightclub in Aberdeen that it left substantial bruising.
He assaulted her again at a Hogmanay party by striking her neck with his hand.
Kinghorn also placed the woman in a state of fear by turning up at her home and attempting to enter the property by sticking his hand through her letterbox.
The court was told Kinghorn’s attitude has changed significantly in the two years since the offences and he feels “guilt and shame” over the way he has behaved.
Victim seemed distressed and had bruising
Fiscal depute Sean Ambrose told the court that on January 13 2019 the woman saw she had several messages message from Kinghorn while in NOX nightclub telling her to come outside.
Mr Ambrose said: “She went outside and he told her to get into the car, to which she replied that she wanted to get a taxi home with her friends.
“He pulled at her handbag and punched her on the arm, causing bruising”
The woman’s mother and friend later noted that the woman seemed “distressed” and had a noticeable bruise on her arm.
The court also heard that the woman attended a Hogmanay party on December 31 2019 knowing Kinghorn would be there but “thought she would be okay” due to being there with other people.
Mr Ambrose told the court that the woman was in a room charging her mobile phone when she “felt a hard blow to her stomach”.
“The accused forced three fingers into her stomach and she was in considerable pain but did not want to cause a scene.”
Kinghorn was then verbally abusive to the woman before striking her in the neck with his hand, which caused her to burst into tears.
He then told her “I will do whatever I want”.
Spotted outside victim’s home
Days later Kinghorn appeared in the driveway of the woman’s home and was seen pacing up and down the driveway.
“He was shouting and pacing back and forth,” Mr Ambrose said.
“The complainer then heard the accused insert his hand into the letter box and try to open the front door.
“He then went around the back of the house as he knew there to be a key safe.”
Mr Ambrose told the court that the incident put the woman in a state of fear and she called the police, who arrested Kinghorn on January 6 2020.
Kinghorn pleaded guilty to one charge of assault by punching the woman outside NOX nightclub on Justice Mill Lane, Aberdeen.
He also admitted engaging in a course of behaviour that was abusive towards his partner at seven locations across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire between September 14 2019 and January 4 2020 and by striking the woman with his hand to various parts of her body.
‘He regrets acting this way towards her’
Defence agent David Sutherland told the court that Kinghorn, who was 18 at the time, has expressed feelings of “guilt, shame and embarrassment” over his actions.
“He regrets acting this way towards her,” he said.
“Mr Kinghorn had a year of going off the rails with alcohol and drugs due to a death in his family.”
Sheriff Morag McLaughlin described Kinghorn’s behaviour toward his former partner as “nasty offences”.
She added: “A significant amount of time has passed since these incidents took place.
“There seems to have been a change in your attitude but this must have been quite frightening for the complainer.”
She sentenced Kinghorn, of Ellon Road, Aberdeen, to a community payback order with supervision for 12 months and ordered him to carry out 125 hours of unpaid work.
Sheriff McLaughlin also put a non-harassment order in place for two years, barring Kinghorn from approaching his former partner.
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