A man subjected his former partner to a campaign of abuse over more than three years.
James Ferguson told the woman she was “fat and ugly”, monitored her mobile phone use, demanded sex and flew into a rage when she refused.
He also targeted the woman physically, on one occasion striking her before telling her to “man up” when she fell to the floor.
Ferguson appeared at Tain Sheriff Court for sentencing having previously admitted a single charge of engaging in a course of behaviour which was abusive of his partner or ex-partner.
Fiscal depute Emily Hood told the court that the couple had been in a relationship but it began to deteriorate in November 2018.
Woman branded ‘lazy’, ‘fat’ and ‘ugly’
Ferguson branded the woman “lazy” and “a liar” and told her she was “fat and ugly”.
On one occasion he grabbed her finger and twisted it causing her pain. He also struck her in the thigh, causing her to fall to the floor, and then told her to “man up”.
The court heard she was spotted limping at work and, when asked about it, she disclosed the abuse.
Ms Hood said: “He would pester and ask her for sex. When she refused he would fly into a rage.”
At one point he complained she “did not do anything nice for him” before demanding sexual relations.
“He would also demand to see her mobile phone and ask who she was speaking to or contacting,” Ms Hood told the court.
Victim told she would ‘regret breaking rules’
Ferguson also told the woman that she was “breaking the rules” and was “going to regret it”.
On one occasion, he called her a c*** then branded her a “psychopath” and made mention of the mental health facility, New Craigs Hospital.
The victim captured a number of the incidents on her mobile phone and eventually handed the recordings to police in August of 2022.
Solicitor Rory Gowans told the court: “It is clear there were difficulties, he accepts that the majority of them were at his hand.
“He has reflected, that is just the start of the reflection he needs to do.
“It is not lost on him how serious this is.”
Sheriff Gary Aitken told Ferguson, of Parkland Place, Balintore: “Behaviour of this kind is simply unacceptable, you seem to realise that and you are prepared to take support to try to do something about it.”
He placed the 27-year-old on a community payback order with two years of supervision and a requirement to complete the Caledonian Men’s Programme, an initiative designed to deal with domestic abuse behaviours.
He also made Ferguson subject to a non-harassment order, which prevents him from approaching or contacting the woman for two years.
