A Turkish barber once sent on a court-ordered course to learn the differences between his own and Scottish culture towards women has been convicted of another domestic abuse-related offence.
Fecri Konu admitted driving carelessly when he crashed his car into a lamp post with his wife in the passenger seat.
Konu, a repeat domestic offender, admitted the offence was aggravated by abuse of the woman.
The 36-year-old from Perth, who runs a business in Dundee, had “panicked” when his wife entered his car at Fife Leisure Park, Dunfermline, and drove off before she was properly in the vehicle.
Dunfermline Sheriff Court heard a non-harassment order is already in place to protect the woman, against whom Konu has offended on four occasions.
The court has heard previously their relationship is over.
Date gate-crashed
Fiscal depute Catherine Stevenson explained Konu had arrived at the Dunfermline leisure park at around 9pm on April 5, having agreed to go for a coffee with someone he had become friends with on social media.
The witness spoke to a friend who knew his wife, who was contacted in turn.
The various parties arrived at the leisure park and Mrs Konu appeared and entered the accused’s vehicle.
He drove off but the passenger door was still open and his wife had not secured herself in place.
Accelerating, Konu crashed the car into a lamp post.
She suffered injuries to her left shin and head but left the vehicle and made a comment about Konu being unfaithful.
Konu had originally been charged with dangerous driving but a reduced plea of driving without due care or attention was accepted.
‘Momentary panic’
Solicitor Billy Somerville said the woman had approached his client, rather than him seeking her out.
He said: “The complainer had indicated that she wished a non-harassment order.
“She decided to approach his vehicle.
“He concluded that she wished to get him into bother.
“When she entered the vehicle, he didn’t look properly.
“It does seem it was a momentary panic on his behalf.”
Sheriff Craig McSherry fined Konu £420 and imposed three penalty points on his driving licence.
History of domestic abuse
In 2012, Konu was ordered to undergo social work supervision for a year to address his cultural beliefs after pulling a knife on his Scottish wife for being “disrespectful” towards him.
Konu was told to change his attitude to Scottish women after confronting his wife when she was too busy working to join him for breakfast.
However, the lessons learned appear to have been forgotten as Konu’s offending resumed in 2018.
At Perth Sheriff Court, he admitted causing his Mrs Konu, fear or alarm by subjecting her to a tirade of abuse on various occasions and was instructed to complete 150 hours of unpaid work.
Then in March this year, he was ordered to complete another 200 hours of unpaid work after threatening Mrs Konu with violence and placing her and a friend in a state of fear or alarm in Perth.
