A sheriff has taken steps to protect a domestic abuse victim after hearing she didn’t want her violent boyfriend prosecuted.
Steven Fay was handed a non-harassment order banning him from any contact with the woman whom he subjected to a two-year campaign of abuse.
Hamilton Sheriff Court heard that on one occasion she woke up in hospital with a black eye, but Fay persuaded her not to wait for treatment.
Fay, 22, appeared from custody and admitted a course of abusive conduct against the victim at addresses in Strathaven and East Kilbride.
This happened between May 2022 and May last year. It included physical and verbal abuse as well as monitoring of her social media.
The court heard the couple had heated arguments, one of which led to Fay grabbing his girlfriend by the throat.
Lewis Devoy, prosecuting, said: “They had been consuming alcohol and at some point the woman blacked out.
“She remembers waking up in Hairmyres Hospital accident and emergency unit with a black eye.
“While she was waiting for treatment, the accused made efforts to convince her she didn’t require to be seen and they left prior to her being given assistance.”
On another occasion police were called and found the victim in a distressed state with blood coming from a head cut.
Fay was traced and hurled abuse at officers, trying to headbutt one and attempting to kick another.
On May 3 last year there was an incident in East Kilbride. The woman was “extremely upset” after Fay threw furniture about, leaving the property in a “state of disarray”.
Fay was not traced at that time but officers found him hiding under a bed at the flat on May 21. He shouldn’t have been in the woman’s company because of bail conditions.
As well as the domestic abuse charge, he admitted breaching bail, police assault and threatening or abusive behaviour towards officers.
Mr Devoy urged Sheriff Michael Higgins to consider a NHO, suggesting Fay is “a danger to the complainer.”
Defence lawyer James Robertson said the couple hope to get back together once Fay is released from prison.
The solicitor added: “My client is remorseful. He had a very sad childhood, living with four foster families and also in children’s homes.
“He has stayed off drink and drugs while in custody since last May and would be welcome at his father’s home on his release.”
Sheriff Higgins jailed Fay for 16 months but backdated the sentence to May 22, meaning that, under early release rules, he was likely to be freed almost immediately.
The sheriff imposed a one-year NHO, telling Fay: “Your partner was not supportive of this prosecution, but I consider that such an order is necessary to protect her from your behaviour.”
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