An offshore worker has been ordered by a sheriff to write an essay on how he plans to stop being a domestic abuser.
Sheriff Gregor Murray took the novel sentencing approach to Craig Perrie after being told about his latest incident of a domestic nature.
He has given Perrie until the end of the week to sit down and write out a plan on how he proposes to change his behaviour to avoid any repeat in future.
Sheriff Murray said: “You have until Friday to produce a written plan which will detail how you will address your offending and how it is going to stop.
“Your drinking will be addressed in it, your offending will be addressed.
“You are nowhere near out of the woods yet.
“You can do it on your own or you can sit down with your wife and do it.”
After being told Perrie is due to fly to Senegal next Monday to return to work, the sheriff said: “You are nowhere near a certainty for going to Senegal on Monday.”
Late-night argument
Dundee Sheriff Court was told Perrie flew into a rage after an all-night drinking session and accused his partner of 15 years cheating on him.
She denied any wrongdoing but Perrie grabbed her mobile phone and threw it to the ground, damaging it and prompting a phone call to the police.
Fiscal depute Lee Corr told the court: “The accused had recently returned from offshore.
“The accused was drinking within the home and continued until the early hours.
“At 7am there was an argument.
“He accused her of having an affair, which she denied.
“Her phone was thrown to the ground and damaged.”
Perrie was arrested and taken to police HQ.
Partner did not want action taken
The court was told the woman intimated she did not want any further action taken against the accused and she confirmed she wished to continue the relationship.
Solicitor David Sinclair, defending, said: “It’s regrettable.
“This drunken episode began after the couple were moving out of their old address into a new address.
“They had been dealing with the removal process and were enjoying a wind down from 1am to 7am.
“He works overseas and is due to go to Senegal for four weeks.
“I would hope that would take the heat out of the situation.”
Sheriff Murray said before he reaches his final sentencing decision he wants Perrie to address his behaviour with a formal, written plan.
Perrie, 41 of Monikie, Angus, admitted acting in a threatening or abusive manner and causing fear or alarm on March 6.
He admitted throwing her mobile phone to the ground and damaging it in an an offence aggravated by a domestic element.
The court was told Perrie, who has a number of previous convictions, had been sentenced for domestic assault in January 2018.
