A serial domestic abuser has narrowly avoided jail after he beat his girlfriend and dragged her to the ground by her hair.
A passing dog walker heard the woman’s screams and saw her lying in the driveway of her Perth home, with partner Cameron Stephen standing over her.
Stephen, 25, appeared at Perth Sheriff Court and admitted assaulting his partner on October 7.
It is the fourth time he has come before the court for a domestic offence.
He was told only his young age had saved him from a jail sentence.
Dog-walker heard victim’s screams
Fiscal depute Elizabeth Hodgson told the court: “At the time, the accused and the complainer had been in a relationship for nine months.
“At around 9pm on October 6, the accused arrived at the house intoxicated.
“An argument ensued about the accused’s whereabouts prior to him arriving home.”
Ms Hodgson said: “The accused became aggressive and slapped his partner repeatedly on the head and body.
“She tried to leave.
“But when she reached the driveway, the accused pulled her by the hair and dragged her to the ground.”
The fiscal depute said: “A passer-by walking her dog heard the complainer’s screams.
“She saw her lying on the ground with the accused standing over her.
“The witness described the complainer as very distressed and her hair was a mess.
“The complainer asked the witness to contact the police.”
Officers arrived later that night and found her inside but she refused to say what had happened.
Stephen was “hostile” to police and argued with his girlfriend, the court heard.
He was arrested in the early hours of the morning and taken into custody.
Early plea questioned
Ms Hodgson said the complainer was not in favour of the court issuing a non-harassment order.
Sheriff Gillian Wade raised concerns about part of Stephen’s social work report, which suggested he had only pled guilty at an earlier hearing “because he didn’t want to spend a period on remand”.
“So this seems like a plea of convenience,” said the sheriff.
Solicitor Pauline Cullerton, defending, said: “Having spoken to Mr Stephen this morning, he now accepts his actions.”
She said: “On this day, he had gone out, consumed alcohol and things soured when he returned back home.
“Clearly alcohol is an issue here and he is now keen to address this.”
Ms Cullerton said: “He is quite realistic that this is the fourth time he has appeared in court for a domestically-aggravated matter and the court will be considering custody.
“But there are still alternatives.”
Jail is ‘preferred option’
Sheriff Wade told Stephen: “A custodial sentence is at the forefront of my mind and if it were not for your age, that would be my preferred option.
“You are a serial domestic abuser and it is nothing to be proud about.
“If this behaviour is not addressed, you will continue to abuse women who you are in an intimate relationship with.
“If you don’t change you will be spending a significant part of your life in prison because at the moment that is where you are heading.”
Stephen was placed on supervision for two years and ordered to carry out the maximum of 300 hours of unpaid work.
In April, Stephen was fined £600 after he turned up at his ex’s home in the early hours and began kicking her door.
He was found by police in a drunken heap in her driveway.
