A Fife thug who told his frightened girlfriend he would cut her father open “like a can of beans” has narrowly avoided a prison sentence.
Raging James Stewart made the chilling threat in a row sparked by him catching her using Facebook.
Stewart smashed the woman’s windscreen as she tried to escape from him.
Dundee Sheriff Court was previously told jealous Stewart flew into a violent rage because he did not want his partner to be on the social media site.
She tried to flee when he told her he had a knife and would “cut her open” and Stewart chased her to her car and started to damage it to prevent her escape.
He smashed the windscreen and ripped off the wheel trims before she eventually managed to get away and call for help.
Relationship over
On Thursday, Stewart, 25, returned to court to be sentenced by Sheriff Gregor Murray.
Defending, solicitor David Sinclair said: “There’s no suggestion that either party wants to resume the relationship.”
Sheriff Murray ordered Stewart to complete 200 hours of unpaid work.
He issued a two-year long non-harassment order and placed Stewart under supervision for as long.
Stewart must also complete the Caledonian Men’s Project for domestic offenders.
The sheriff told him he deserved to go to prison but previous community-based orders undertaken by Stewart had not been focused.
“It’s clear on the day, emotions were running high,” Sheriff Murray said.
Social media row
At a previous hearing, fiscal depute Lora Apostolova told the court: “They were in the car when she took a call from a friend and the accused overheard a remark about the complainer being on Facebook.
“This was a social media platform the accused did not wish her to be on.
“There was an argument and she left the car.
“He snatched the phone from her hand and a struggle ensued as she tried to retrieve the phone.”
Stewart told his girlfriend: “Remember I have a knife on me. I’ll cut you open right here.”
Threats to family
Mrs Apostolova said: “She was petrified and crying at this time.
“She ran towards the car and the accused gave chase.
“She attempted to drive off and the accused smashed the front windscreen of the car and removed the trims from her tyres before she finally made off.
“She drove to her mum’s and her mum drove her home because the windscreen was badly damaged.
“When she got home she had five voicemails, mostly making threats towards her and her family.”
Stewart said: “Tell your father I will put holes clean through him if he comes for me.
“I will cut him open like a can of beans. I will blow two holes clean through your face.”
Stewart, of Cupar, last month admitted threatening violence in the car park at Stratheden Hospital on July 4 2021.
He also admitted smashing the windscreen of her car and sending threats to kill her father.
