A north-east man has been fined after throwing a beer can at his then-girlfriend’s head as she was getting onto her motorbike.
Stephen Sirrell appeared at Banff Sheriff Court yesterday, where he admitted “recklessly” throwing the tin at Rachel Blackwood following an argument.
But his lawyer argued that the matter had only been brought to the attention of the police months after it took place, out of “spite” after Sirrell rejected Ms Blackwood’s attempts to reconcile the relationship.
The 32-year-old accused had been in a relationship with the woman for more than two years when the incident happened in November 2016.
The court heard that Sirrell, of Main Street in New Byth, had been at home when she came to visit.
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After an argument, Ms Blackwood tried to leave on her motorbike.
Fiscal depute Ruaridh McAlister said: “As she was away to leave he came out shouting at her while holding a tin of beer which he had been drinking.
“He threw it and it struck the complainer on the head.
Mr McAlister added that the victim sustained no injuries as she was wearing a motorcycle helmet at the time.
Sirrell plead guilty to a charge of culpably and recklessly throwing a tin can which struck Ms Blackwood.
His defence agent, Stuart Beveridge, claimed that charges had only been pressed “out of spite” after his client rejected Ms Blackwood’s advances last summer.
He said: “Atempts were made by the victim to rekindle but this has now come to light out of spite as he was unwilling to get back together.
“This is a historic matter and there were no injuries.
“He simply threw the can in a fit of pique.”
Sheriff Robert McDonald said: “The court takes a serious view of anything that amounts to abuse of a partner or ex-partner, as this cannot be tolerated in any form – whether it meant to hit her or not.”
Sirrell was fined £225.
