An abusive Fife boyfriend was warned stop trying to be a “hard man” or face prison.
Jaymis Vellery, 22, appeared at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court and admitted a campaign of domestic abuse towards a former partner dating from March 2020 to April 2022.
He assaulted her on multiple occasions at properties in Kennoway and Leven, by striking and kicking her on the body, arms and chest.
These attacks left the woman injured, the court heard.
Vallery, of Rowan Crescent in Methil, also made threats and acted aggressively.
Solicitor David McLaughlin said: “Suffice to say, Mr Vallery acknowledges this is significant offending.
“He has not covered himself in glory.”
The court heard that in his interview with Fife Council’s social work department, Vallery had “failed to recognise the seriousness” of his conduct.#
Sheriff Timothy Niven-Smith said: “I have to have regard to the fact that he’s a young man.
“As I read it, there was no previous convictions.
“Notwithstanding his youth, his immaturity and his lack of offending, he has pled guilty to a course of conduct which is over a period of two years in which he has systematically assaulted a domestic partner.
“In my view, it’s crossed the custody threshold.”
The sheriff added: “If he were an adult offender there would be no question that he would be going to prison.
“He’s placed himself in a precarious position.
“He presents himself in a domestic setting as a bit of a hard man. For want of a better term, he’s a bully.
“I do not wish to take a knee jerk reaction. As it currently stands, custody is inevitable.
“At present, on the basis of the report, I would be imposing custody.
“If you were an adult, you’d be going through the door to jail today.
“If you adopt the hard man approach in the next report, you will be going to custody.”
The sheriff ordered a supplementary report and deferred sentencing until June 27.
Perth teen breached bail
A teenager who left a Perth schoolboy scarred for life following a horrific Halloween scissor attack has admitted breaching his bail conditions.
Reece Duncan, who was placed on a deferred sentence for the brutal assault at the city’s Moncreiffe Island in 2020, returned to the dock on Tuesday.
Perth Sheriff Court heard that he failed to comply with bail conditions imposed in October 2022, which ordered him to stay home between 8pm and 8am.
He failed to answer the door of his Drummond Way home when police visited between January 4 and 6, this year.
Sentence was deferred until August 30.
The court previously heard how Duncan’s victim lost half a pint of blood following the attack.
The assault had been witnessed by other children.
Killer loses appeal
A man who murdered a mother and her two-year-old daughter before burying their bodies under his kitchen floor has lost a bid to appeal against his conviction and sentence.
Andrew Innes, 52, stabbed and beat 25-year-old Bennylyn Burke to death with a hammer before strangling her daughter Jellica at his home in Dundee.
He was jailed for life following a five-day trial, and ordered to serve a minimum of 36 years before he can apply for parole.
The software engineer launched a bid for freedom by challenging both his conviction and sentence at the High Court of Criminal Appeal in Edinburgh.
Innes had his appeal rejected by the court at the “first sift” stage on Monday.
Racist abuse
A Fife woman who shouted at police she had Covid and told one officer he was an “English b***ard” has been fined.
Dominique Greig, 30, previously pled guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner and making racist remarks during an incident at her home in Queens Avenue, Methilhill, in January last year.
At an earlier hearing, Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court heard that police were called to the property regarding a disturbance and that Greig was heavily intoxicated and holding a young child when she answered the door.
Greig became unruly when officers entered her home and started shouting and swearing at them while still holding the toddler and was having to adjust her grasp, the court heard.
Procurator fiscal depute Alistair McDermid said Greig eventually agreed to let one of the officers hold the child after several requests.
The fiscal depute said Greig then lunged at a constable and pushed him on the chest, shouting “I have Covid” and “the bairn’s got Covid”.
As she shouted, she sprayed saliva on the constable’s face and she was arrested.
Mr McDermid said when another officer with a pronounced Sunderland accent arrived on scene to assist, Greig repeatedly shouted “English b***ard” at him.
Later, after being taken to the police station, she carried out a lateral flow test which was negative.
Defence lawyer Kirsty Watson said previously that Greig struggled to recall the incident due to her level of intoxication but regrets her actions and is remorseful.
The solicitor said Greig sought help from a GP after the incident “to be on the safe side” as she was worried about her behaviour, which was described as “out of character”.
Greig appeared in court this week for sentencing.
Defence lawyer Dewar Spence described a social work report on his client as “very positive”.
Sheriff James Williamson agreed the background report was good and noted her lack of previous offending.
The sheriff fined Greig £450.
Abuser smashed egg on victim
A vile bully smashed an egg over a pregnant woman’s head and tipped food over her during a campaign of abuse spanning nearly three months.
Scott Kidd was also seen defecating into a box and flinging it over her, as he systematically degraded his vulnerable victim.
Kidd, 29, was acting as the woman’s carer, but had left her isolated by taking away her phone and bank cards.
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