A man who bullied a woman to the point she nearly killed herself has been given a community sentence.
Connor Goodfellow, 24, repeatedly abused the woman in Cowdenbeath between August 2020 and December 2020.
His brutality pushed her to the point she harmed herself with knife in the hope she would “bleed out and die”, the high court heard.
Goodfellow repeatedly kicked, punched and choked the woman, while hurling vile insults at her.
He ignored court orders preventing him from contacting her and bombarded her with unwanted phone calls and messages.
Sentence explained
On Thursday, at the High Court in Edinburgh, Lord Arthurson noted Goodfellow had already spent the equivalent of a three-year prison sentence on remand.
He said he took this into account in his decision to impose a non-custodial sentence, which includes the requirement to perform 250 hours of community service.
Goodfellow will also be supervised by the authorities in his local community for the next three years.
He said: “Normally, a significant custodial disposal follows in a case like this.
“However, there are unusual circumstances here.
“You have a positive report. You have spent the equivalent of three years in custody.
“I think the public interest is best served in the disposal that I am imposing.”
Brutal attack
Goodfellow, of Cowdenbeath, pled guilty to physical assault and threatening behaviour charges last month.
At that point, prosecution lawyer Bill McVicar told Lord Arthurson about one of the attacks.
He said: “He put his hands around her throat and squeezed her throat.
“She ended up on the floor and while lying in tears the accused called her fat and a tramp.
“During the course of that morning, the accused repeatedly kicked the complainer on her body and repeatedly struck her on the head and body with his hands.
“She took a knife and held it to her stomach and began to hurt herself.
“She said she hoped she would just bleed out and die.
“At that point the accused took hold of the knife and got it out of her hands.”
Goodfellow was arrested after members of the public found the woman wondering in a “distressed state” in nearby woodland.
She was taken to hospital and found to have injuries consistent with “blunt force trauma”.
Relentless offender
Goodfellow was arrested and bailed with the condition he did not approach or contact his victim.
However, he breached these conditions by sending “unpleasant and alarming” Snapchat message.
Goodfellow arrested again on October 26 2020, appeared in court and was granted bail on the same conditions but his offending continued and police were once again called to his victim’s home on November 8 2020.
On December 3 2020, she received Facebook messages from him, leaving her so traumatised she decided to try and take her own life.
The messages continued to arrive even as she made the attempt, Mr McVicar said.
Prison threat
On Thursday, defence advocate Tony Lenehan KC said his client had displayed a “degree of insight” into his offending and could be rehabilitated.
Mr Lenehan added: “Connor Goodfellow is a young man who can still make something of himself.
“He is a capable young man.
“If he is given a community payback order, it will prepare him for a useful role in society.”
Lord Arthurson warned Goodfellow if he offends in the near future, he will be brought back to the high court to face the prospect of a prison term.
He added: “It is almost certain that I will impose a period of custody.”
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