A Fife council employee who works with vulnerable people “will certainly lose his job” after pinning his ex-partner to the ground by her throat in a heated argument after a friend’s wedding.
Kevin Binnie also made dozens of phone calls and sent numerous text messages to the woman, despite her requests to stop contact.
Binnie, 38, of Kirkcaldy’s Cumbrae Terrace, pled guilty to engaging in a course of abusive behaviour between August 13 and 17 this year.
He returned to Dunfermline Sheriff Court for sentencing last week.
Messages while police were with victim
Procurator fiscal depute Jill Currie said the couple had returned from the wedding in the early hours and started arguing.
She said the woman had told told Binnie to leave their home in Kingseat, near Dunfermline and “the accused pinned her to the floor with his right hand on her throat”.
The fiscal depute said the woman shouted “call 999” and another person in the house contacted police.
A concerned neighbour did the same.
Binnie was found by officers standing in the front garden and he appeared upset.
He told them he had argued with his partner and “had been a bit overly aggressive with her”.
Four days later police went to the woman’s home to carry out a welfare check.
While there, Binnie texted her and she said he had been calling and texting since the incident.
The fiscal depute continued: “She received around 30 phone calls on WhatsApp between these dates.
“There were also numerous text messages pleading for her to take him back.
“They were not threatening but she did text back asking him to stop contacting her”.
Football coaching loss
Defence lawyer Heather Morrison said her client “will certainly lose his job”, which involves working for the council dealing with vulnerable adults and children in the housing department.
She said the first offender intends to find new work.
Ms Morrison said Binnie was also previously coaching a youth football team.
As both of these roles are subject to PVG (protecting vulnerable groups) requirements, a criminal record means he will lose both.
Ms Morrison referred to a social work report in which her client talked of “some violent behaviour on the part of the complainer”.
The lawyer said it would appear there may have been a “degree of provocation” but he accepts his behaviour was unacceptable and is remorseful for his actions.
Sheriff James MacDonald sentenced Binnie to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work.
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