BY MICHAEL MCQUAID
A Scottish Premiership footballer has been accused of a three-year campaign of abuse against a woman.
St Mirren striker Kevin Van Veen allegedly assaulted the female and acted in a controlling manner towards her. The 33-year-old appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court today.
It’s alleged he conducted a course of abusive behaviour towards the woman at addresses in Renfrewshire, Inverclyde and South Lanarkshire as well as at a resort in Cancun, Mexico, between September 2021 and July this year.
Allegations include that he shoved her out of a bed while she was pregnant.
On another occasion, Van Veen allegedly grabbed and twisted her body to her injury. He’s also accused of striking her on the body with his hand.
It’s further alleged that he forced her to stand naked during arguments and pulled down her clothing and underwear without her consent.
Van Veen, of Govan, Glasgow, is further accused of shouting abuse and threats, limiting the woman’s contact with family and friends, controlling what she wore, making false claims about her and monitoring her phone and social media activity.
It’s also alleged he locked her repeatedly in his home, phoned and texted her when she didn’t want contact and turned up uninvited at her home and a relative’s home.
The case was continued without plea until next month. Sheriff Michael Higgins placed him on bail with special conditions not to contact the woman or attend at her home.
Van Veen was a striking sensation when he joined Motherwell and scored 29 times for the Steelmen during the 2022-23 season.
He returned to the Netherlands at the end of that season to sign for FC Groningen but was back in Scotland in February this year for a loan spell at Kilmarnock.
Van Veen said then that he had returned to Scotland to be nearer his baby daughter as “it had been tough being away from her”.
He joined St Mirren on loan in August and has made a handful of appearances but missed the last two games against Rangers and St Johnstone with a foot injury.
He told the club website following his arrival at the SMiSA Stadium that he’d struggled to focus on football because of personal issues. Van Veen added: “I’ve got a light at the end of that tunnel and feel I’m ready to go again.”
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