A Fife domestic abuser “sniffed” his partner and accused her of cheating when she returned home from staying at a friend’s house, a court has heard.
Controlling Kyle Macpherson, 36, claimed he could “smell” the woman had slept with someone else after carrying out the bizarre act at an address in Rosyth.
Macpherson, of Headwell Avenue, Dunfermline, appeared at the city’s sheriff court for sentencing after earlier pleading guilty to engaging in a course of behaviour which was abusive of the woman over more than four-and-a-half years.
Court papers state Macpherson made derogatory remarks about her clothing and appearance, isolated her from friends and family, controlled what she could watch on TV and what food she was allowed to eat, called her derogatory names and threatened her with violence.
He also repeatedly contacted her to find out where she was and with whom, shouted, swore, acted in an aggressive manner, accused her of being unfaithful, threw a TV remote at a wall and seized her on the body and pulled her into the house.
Bizarre ‘smell’ claim
Prosecutor Annie MacDonald told the court Macpherson was in an “on-off” relationship with the woman for four years.
They had a disagreement during a night out and the woman told a friend about their issues and that she had cut contact with family and friends because of the relationship.
She decided to stay over at her friend’s house.
At around 5.30am the next day she phoned Macpherson, who accused her of cheating on him and to “get home immediately”.
When she got home, he called her a “dirty whore” and an “abuser” and said he wanted money back for drinks he bought her.
The fiscal depute said: “He leaned down and sniffed her vagina and stated, ‘I can smell it off you’.”
Macpherson claimed he “could smell” she had slept with someone else, then threw the TV remote control, smashing it open.
Plea for help
The woman tried to go to bed but Macpherson’s tirade continued.
The fiscal went on: “He then stated she was not allowed to go to sleep until she told the truth and resolved the situation.”
The woman says Macpherson asked her for sex, which was declined, and they fell asleep.
Later that morning, Macpherson saw the woman drinking from a bottle of Irn Bru and stated she should have asked him for a drink.
She was not allowed to drink more without permission.
The woman sent a text to a friend about Macpherson’s behaviour and asked her to come round.
She went to make sure the front door was unlocked and tried to go outside but he grabbed her arm and pulled her back in.
The fiscal said the woman was scared.
Sentencing
Macpherson’s defence lawyer asked for his client to be given a chance to address his behaviour and suggested a non-custodial sentence.
Sheriff Krista Johnston told the accused: “This was prolonged behaviour on your part, spanning several years.”
She said his treatment of the woman was “abusive and controlling… at times childish”.
She said: “You have much to learn about the way you treat women, particularly those with whom you are in a relationship”.
The sheriff noted Macpherson has two previous convictions involving domestic elements.
He was sentenced to 150 hours of unpaid work and offender supervision for two years, with a condition he undertakes the Caledonian Men’s programme to address domestic offending.
He was banned from contacting the woman for five years.
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