Elgin man lands unpaid work after drunkenly punching holes in wall at ex-partner’s Inverness home

A Moray father was arrested after visiting his ex-partner’s home in Inverness and drunkenly punching holes in the wall.

Inverness Sheriff Court heard that Steven Paterson, of Lesmurdie Road in Elgin, had a history of domestic abuse.

He was visiting his former partner’s home to see his daughter on March 8 this year, but the day ended with the 45-year-old being arrested for acting in a threatening and abusive manner.

Paterson engaged in minor arguments with the woman, who he had been in a relationship with for five years until it ended in 2019.

Fiscal depute Rebecca Coakley said Paterson arrived at 1pm, but remained downstairs at 10.30pm, after his ex and daughter had gone to bed.

He began shouting, swearing and punching holes in the walls before police were contacted and he was arrested.

Almost six weeks later, after being released on bail and told not to contact the woman, he tried to call her and left a voicemail asking her to call back.

Paterson pleaded guilty to breaching the court order. He was ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid community work.

He was also instructed to participate in a domestic abuser's rehabilitation programme and banned from contacting his former partner for three years.

Paterson was also placed under two years of social work supervision as an alternative to a prison sentence.

His lawyer, David Patterson said: "Alcohol has been a feature throughout his adult life.

“His last conviction was 10 years ago but his drinking kept up.

"He is trying to do something about it but needs some intervention."

Sheriff Aitken told Paterson: "These offences do you little credit, particularly in view of your record [of previous convictions].

"But there is some indication from your past that you will respond to some intervention."