ELGIN MAN DAVID STEELE SENTENCED FOR THREATS AND DOMESTIC DISPUTE IN ABERLOUR

David Steele, a 32-year-old resident of Elgin, has been sentenced to community service after pleading guilty to charges of threatening and abusive behavior towards his former partner. The incident took place at an address in Aberlour earlier this year, and the court proceedings shed light on a tumultuous relationship that lasted over a decade.

According to court records, Steele and his partner had been together for approximately 11 years, during which they also shared children. The events leading to Steele’s conviction unfolded on the evening of May 14. That night, the woman left her home to visit friends and returned around 11:30 pm. She went to bed, finding Steele still in bed with her. The following morning, at around 6 am, she woke up and went for a shower. It was during this time that Steele questioned her about messages on her phone from another man. The messages, which were not sexual in nature, appeared to have triggered a heated argument.

As tensions escalated, a physical struggle ensued. The woman was pushed to the floor, sustaining a carpet burn in the process. Steele accused her of being unfaithful and called her a ‘slut,’ despite the lack of evidence supporting infidelity. Later that morning, as she prepared to take their children to school, Steele threatened to change the locks on the house, further demonstrating his controlling behavior. When she returned home, the situation worsened; Steele continued shouting and swearing, and the argument intensified. During the altercation, Steele’s partner fell backwards into the oven, which resulted in the glass door breaking. The police were called to the scene, and Steele was arrested. During questioning, he denied assaulting her physically, although the woman sustained minor cuts and scratches on her arm and thigh.

Sheriff Gordon Fleetwood addressed Steele’s conduct during the sentencing, describing his actions as compulsive and highly aggressive. The sheriff condemned Steele’s behavior as both aggressive and controlling, emphasizing the seriousness of domestic disputes. Steele’s solicitor informed the court that he had been attending anger management counseling, and clarified that Steele’s previous convictions were unrelated to domestic abuse. The sheriff issued a stern warning, stating, “If you behave like a hooligan, I will treat you like one,” and sentenced Steele to 18 months of supervision. Additionally, Steele was ordered to complete 80 hours of unpaid community service within six months. It was noted in the court that Steele did not admit to physically punching his partner but was guilty of threatening her and engaging in a struggle that caused her to fall against the oven, resulting in the broken glass door.