A Dundee man who fractured his partner’s ribs in a violent argument then locked her in her flat for three nights has been jailed.
Stuart Heenan was sentenced to nine months behind bars after pleading guilty to abducting his former partner, as well as a string of other offences.
After battering the woman, he left her in the flat and took her keys.
She was forced to beg for help through the letterbox and was only rescued three days later.
Argument breaks out
Dundee Sheriff Court heard Perth Prison inmate Heenan had begun arguing with the woman – his partner of 24 years – when they were out for a walk on April 4 last year and a passing friend addressed her as “darling”.
Fiscal depute Kate Scarborough explained the woman replied, “Hi mate, how are you?” and Heenan became angry.
When they got home to their flat in Pitalpin Court, she offered to make dinner to diffuse the situation.
Heenan swore at her, before trying to slap her.
She was able to block the attack but Heenan seized her by the throat, grabbed her arms and kicked her in the stomach.
He then took sets of keys from the stricken woman and left.
Rescued three days later
She woke up at 11pm that night, a Sunday, in “significant pain” and realised Heenan was not in the flat and she had no way of getting out.
The court heard she spent the next two days banging and shouting in an attempt to attract attention, without success.
It was not until the Wednesday that she woke up to hear a neighbour leaving their flat and was able to make her predicament known.
She shouted through the letterbox for them to contact police, who arrived at around 12.40pm.
Officers forced entry into the flat to find the woman lying on the floor due to her injuries.
She was rushed to Ninewells by ambulance and medics treated her for fractured ribs.
Relationship continues
Heenan, 40, was identified standing nearby while police were investigating.
Appearing from custody on Wednesday, he admitted abducting the woman and detaining her against her will, as well as assaulting her to her injury.
He also admitted breaching bail a condition not to approach her and on April 10, robbing her of a mobile phone at her home.
Heenan also admitted attacking and injuring the woman on Ravenscraig Road on January 7 this year by chasing her, bending her fingers backwards, seizing her by the body, repeatedly punching her, pulling her hair and robbing her of a bag and its contents.
Heenan’s solicitor said he had been remanded since January 10 and was receiving help for his drug addiction in prison.
He said: “He and the complainer have been in a relationship for a long time.
“Both parties suffer from fairly chronic physical and mental health problems.
“Since being remanded in custody, he has had that issue addressed somewhat.
“Despite the fact that he’s in custody, she has been in regular contact by telephone.
“My understanding is they will continue to be in a relationship.”
