A Fife man banned his ex-girlfriend from wearing skirts, caused her to eat less and threw coffee over her when she made a comment about the football team he supports.
Mark McConnell also controlled who his partner spoke to.
The 28-year-old, from Dunfermline, appeared in the town’s sheriff court and admitted engaging in a course of abusive behaviour between November 2019 and December 2020.
He will be sentenced next month.
Abused partner lost weight
Procurator fiscal depute Mat Piskorz said the couple met on Instagram and as the relationship went on McConnell became “more controlling and abusive.”
“The complainer described how he would tell her what to wear and not to allow her to wear skirts,” Mr Piskorz told the court.
“She also described how he would watch her eating and comment on the amount she was eating.
“This made her feel uncomfortable and as a result she lost weight and was prescribed with some iron tablets.”
The fiscal depute said McConnell, of Johnston Crescent, would also not allow her to speak with friends on the phone – and when she did, she would have to recount the entire conversation to him.
Coffee assault
In March 2020, the woman was at home with a friend and McConnell when he threw coffee over her.
The fiscal depute continued: “They had been chatting in the living room and the complainer made herself a coffee and – she can not recall why – but the accused started being abusive to her before picking up the coffee cup and throwing its contents over her.
“One of the witnesses, in her statement, recalls it was due to the accused becoming angry about the complainer making a comment about the football team he supports.”
This matter was reported to police and McConnell was charged.
McConnell admitted engaging in a course of abusive behaviour against his ex partner which included controlling what she wore and who she spoke with, making derogatory comments about her eating habits, and assaulting her by throwing coffee over her.
Sheriff Susan Duff adjourned sentencing until September 14 pending the production of background reports.
COURIER OPINION: We all have a duty to call out domestic abuse
