Fife man jailed after years of abuse towards his partner
A Dunfermline man, who subjected his partner to more than six years of domestic abuse, has been jailed.
Paul McMullan punched the woman, grabbed her hair and struck her with a lit cigarette during a catalogue of abuse.
On one occasion he hit her in the face with a three-litre cider bottle and another incident took place when the victim was pregnant.
He regularly made offensive remarks to her and during one struggle he grabbed the woman’s mother and threw her out of the house. When he did not get his own way, McMullan would smash up the television.
Paul McMullan (35), of Inchkeith Drive, appeared at Dunfermline Sheriff Court for sentencing having previously admitted a string of offences committed at various locations over the years.
Between 1st June 2006 and 19th August 2012 at Wedderburn Crescent, Bittern Court, Segal House, all Dunfermline, and High Street, Cowdenbeath and Finnegan’s Bar, Edinburgh, he assaulted his then partner by throwing a shoe at her which struck her on the head, repeatedly attempted to remove a mobile phone from her grasp, repeatedly struggled with her, repeatedly pushed her on the body, struck her on the head, struck her with a lit cigarette on the head, pulled her hair, struck her with a bottle to the head, all to her injury.
On 11th February 2007 at Bittern Court, Dunfermline, he conducted himself in a disorderly manner, seized the woman’s mother by the clothing and pushed her out of the house and committed a breach of the peace.
On 27th February 2009 at Abbeyview Bowling Club he conducted himself in a disorderly manner, repeatedly shouted, swore and uttered threats of violence, threw furniture against the building, struggled with his partner’s brother and committed a breach of the peace.
On various occasions between 1st June 2006 and 14th August 2012 at addresses in Bittern Court, Gorrie Street and Inchkeith Drive, Dunfermline, Fod Street, Halbeath and High Street, Cowdenbeath, he conducted himself in a disorderly manner, repeatedly shouted and swore at his then partner, repeatedly made derogatory comments to her, damaged televisions and committed a breach of the peace.
He also admitted that he breached bail conditions not to contact the woman.
The court was previously told that after one row between the couple, McMullan threw his partner’s high heel shoe at her, hitting her and causing her head to bleed.
In another incident outside a pub in Edinburgh, McMullan flicked a lit cigarette at the woman, causing a burn mark and blister.
Depute fiscal Dev Kapadia said that the couple had a ten-year relationship which ended three years ago.
Earlier this year, the couple re-established contact and McMullan told her he was “a changed person and wanted them to be a family again.”
This contact continued but later the ex-partner told police she thought McMullan “had been manipulating her”, added the depute.
Defence solicitor Chris Sneddon said, “It was a tempestuous relationship and both parties regularly consumed alcohol to excess.”
He added, “His position is that his behaviour was unacceptable, disgusting and selfish.”
Sheriff Charles MacNair told McMullan, “Over of a period in excess of six years you behaved in a violent and abusive manner to your partner.”
He went on, “Domestic violence of this sort has a devastating effect on the victims. It is the element of control which is significant.”
The sheriff said it was also significant that McMullan breached bail in trying to get back together with his ex-partner leading up to his scheduled trial.
“Domestic abuse of this sort will not be tolerated under any circumstances,” added the sheriff.
He jailed McMullan for 17 months and he will be subject of a supervised release order for five and a half months when he leaves prison.
The sheriff also imposed a three-year non-harassment order.