A Leuchars-based army corporal must pay back £9,000 his former partner spent on him as he subjected her to a 30-month-long campaign of abuse.
A court heard how Apolosi Sokia manipulated his now-former partner, “allowed” her to provide him with large sums of money and induced her to pay for items on his behalf.
During a campaign of abuse from April 2019 to October 2021, he tried to prevent her from going on holiday with friends.
He repeatedly shouted and behaved in an aggressive manner towards her, phoning and sending text and social media messages.
The soldier also travelled from the Fife military base where he is stationed to her Stirling home despite being uninvited and then refused to leave when asked.
Sokia, 32, returned to Stirling Sheriff Court to be sentenced after admitting the domestically-aggravated offence last month.
His commanding officer provided a letter to the court asking for sentencing to be further deferred until July because Sokia is scheduled to ship out to Mali in West Africa on a UN Peacekeeping mission.
However, Sheriff Derek Hamilton imposed a high-end community payback order, instructing Sokia to pay back the thousands of pounds he induced the woman to spend on him.
Army takes ‘an extremely dim view’
Defending, solicitor David McLaughlin said Sokia was “left under no illusions of the thoughts of the court and how serious this is”.
He said: “My foremost submission is to ask the court to step away from custody.
“Mr Sokia is for all intents and purposes a first offender.
“He’s been in the British army for 10 years, being a Fijian national.
“He’s advanced within the British army and now holds the rank of corporal.
“It will be clear from the letter submitted from his commanding officer… they take an extremely dim view.
“He’s clearly thought of well in the army.”
Mr McLaughlin said Sokia came to the UK to join the military.
He added allowing him to attend the African peacekeeping mission would present him with a bonus, which would go towards reimbursing his ex-partner.
‘This does merit custody’
Sheriff Hamilton said his option would remain the same in July.
“This matter has been prosecuted on summary complaint but having heard the narrative it is an extremely serious matter.
“It’s a catalogue of extremely coercive behaviour.
“The victim was left £9,000 out of pocket because of it.
“This does merit a custodial sentence but I don’t wish to end your career.”
The sheriff placed Sokia on a community payback order with 20 months supervision.
Before it expires, he must pay back the full sum, £1,000 of which must come within seven days.
Sokia must complete 255 hours of unpaid work in the next year and was banned from contacting the woman for 24 months.
