A firefighter faces “severe ramifications” after being found guilty of battering his ex-partner.
At the end of the trial, Sheriff John Rafferty told Chris Vesey he found his victim’s evidence “very credible and reliable”.
The young woman hesitated about telling police about the beating she received in February this year because she was concerned Vesey would lose his job.
She was left with a red face and bleeding lip after he hit her head against the bedroom floor.
Vesey, 31, hid behind his briefcase as he left Dundee Sheriff Court after being convicted of assault.
‘It was a shock’
Vesey’s victim told the court she had been in the bedroom, having showered, when an “angry” Vesey came into the room.
He called her names and accusing her of being unfaithful.
He came from behind her, after forcing his way into the bedroom, struck her with the door, forced her to the floor and hit her head off the ground.
The ex-partner told the court: “I was shouting ‘get off me’.
“He hit my head off the floor.
“I looked in the mirror and saw my face, my lip was bleeding.
“My face was red.
“It was a shock, he had never hit me before.”
Accused ‘completely lost it’
Photographs of the woman’s facial injuries were shown to the court.
During her evidence and in her statement to police she admitted she had hit Vesey in retaliation.
Another young witness gave evidence to the court, which corroborated the woman’s version of events, Sheriff Rafferty concluded.
The sheriff said: “I have to say, I have heard many impressive witnesses in court but the complainer struck me as a witness who was credible, reliable and gave a frank account.
“She had an eagerness to say he had never before lifted a finger on her, that she thinks he ‘completely lost it’.
“It seems to me she gave spontaneous, reliable and truthful evidence.”
‘Severe ramifications on the accused’
He said: “She accepted, without any prodding, that she struck him in retaliation and reported this fact to the police.
“She indicated you were a fireman, that what you did was ‘crazy’ but did not want you to lose your job.
“She said your behaviour (afterwards) attempted to normalise what you had done.”
Addressing Vesey, Sheriff Rafferty said: “You indicated you had photographs of your injuries but these were never produced.
“I am left in no doubt you committed this offence.
“I find you guilty as libelled.”
Solicitor Ian Houston, defending, told the court: “This decision could have severe ramifications on the accused.”
Vesey, of Tay Street, Tayport, was found guilty of assault, aggravated by it being against a former partner, on February 11 2022 at an address in the town.
He will return to court for sentencing on June 29.
