A serial woman-beater has been locked up after chasing a female through Aberdeen city centre and punching her until he injured his hand.
Stefan Sivers racked up his sixth conviction for crimes against women when appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court and admitted the disturbing attack.
The 31-year-old was seen pursuing the crying woman through city centre streets before cornering her and launching a physical attack.
His victim was heard sobbing and begging him to stop – but the attack only came to an end when Sivers appeared to injure his hand after raining blows down on the woman.
A Crown narrative of the offence stated Sivers and the woman had both been in the city centre consuming alcohol during the evening of August 30 2022.
Around 9pm, a witness on Union Street saw the female crying while crossing the road and Sivers following her.
The pair were then seen in a doorway in Golden Square where the woman was heard to shout “no”.
‘There’s motivation to change’
The court heard: “The witness saw that the accused had effectively trapped the complainer in a corner and watched as he struck her face with his hand.
“She saw the complainer continue to cry whilst shouting ‘please stop’.
“The witness contacted the police whilst her husband approached the accused and informed him the police were en route.
“The accused then hugged the complainer and they walked away together.”
A short time later, officers traced Sivers and the female on Union Street, with Sivers holding her against a wall “as if to prevent her from leaving”.
The woman did not cooperate with police and refused to any details about what happened.
She was seen to have a small cut to her upper lip and redness to her cheeks.
Sivers was arrested and taken into custody.
The incident was captured in full on CCTV.
Woman punched in face and stomach
The court heard: “It showed the complainer running away from the accused and entering a doorway at Golden Square to the rear of Aberdeen Music Hall.
“The footage thereafter showed the accused punch the complainer to the face and stomach area multiple times before she crouched to the ground.
“The accused continued to punch her to the face and body. Eventually, the accused stopped when it appeared he may have hurt his hand.”
Sivers and the women were then seen arguing and walking towards William Hill on Union Street.
When the woman attempted to leave, Sivers grabbed her by the shoulders and dragged her towards the doorway with him.
Sivers, a prisoner of HMP Barlinnie, pled guilty to a charge of assault to injury.
Defence agent David Sutherland said the matter was his client’s sixth conviction for crimes against women, dating back to 2009.
‘It’s another offence of violence against women’
He went on: “Thankfully there’s no kicking of the complainer and the injury is a small cut on her upper lip and redness to her cheeks.
“The accused recognises and expresses concern about the behaviour towards women. There’s motivation to change.”
Mr Sutherland said his client’s childhood experiences and his mother’s death had impacted on his mental health.
He went on: “His behaviour that day was the consequence of him and the complainer drinking alcohol clearly to excess that day.”
Sheriff Ian Wallace told Sivers: “Given the nature of this offence against the background of your offending I’m satisfied only a custodial sentence is appropriate.
“It’s another offence of violence against women.”
He jailed Sivers for eight months, with a further 170 days related to an unexpired portion of a previous sentence.
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