Stenhousemuir domestic offender reaches the 'end of the line'

Shaun Adams (32) was told his partner deserved a break from his behaviour.

In the most recent incident she was left with a golf ball sized lump on her head after he threw a pair of trainers at her and grabbed her by the hair.

Intoxicated during that assault – which he actually committed while he was on bail for another matter – he stated he had turned to alcohol as a way of coping following the murder of this brother last year.

Adams appeared at Falkirk Sheriff Court yesterday having pled guilty to the assault he committed at his 21 McLachlan Street, Stenhousemuir home on April 24.

Procurator fiscal depute Sean Maher said: “Having been released from custody, the complainer attended at the address in order to see him and this continued for some days.

“The complainer had come by to retrieve some items of clothing and food for her dog. The accused was under the influence of alcohol and began to shout and swear at her ‘you’re no’ getting in’.

“She entered the kitchen and he followed her, throwing a pair of trainers at her, striking her on the body. The complainer tried a number of times to push the accused away and he seized her by the hair.

“Police then received an anonymous report and they attended. They could hear loud banging and a female screaming. When they entered the address they found her in a very distressed state and the accused was arrested.

“The complainer was attended to by paramedics and advised she did not require to attend hospital. However, police noted there was a golf ball sized lump on top of her head.”

The court heard Adams, a gardener by trade, seriously regretted what happened and how he treated the complainer, who he had been in a relationship with for 15 years, on that night.

It was stated he simply could not remember the offence due to the level of alcohol he had consumed. He was said to have turned to alcohol following his brother’s murder last year.

The accused and the complainer supposedly intend to continue their relationship when this matter comes to an end.

However, Sheriff Derek Hamilton had other ideas – stating he thought the woman who was the victim is this offence deserved some time away from Adams.

Sheriff Hamilton said: “I have looked at your record – you have already been through the Caledonian Programme, you’re on a community payback order for a domestic incident, you have two domestic assault convictions, you have a knife conviction and you were on bail at the time of this matter.

“It’s the end of the line for you.”

Sheriff Hamilton sentenced Adams to nine months in prison and made him subject to a non harassment order for 12 months not to contact his partner.

He said: “It’s about time your partner had a break from your behaviour.”