ABERDEEN DOMESTIC ABUSER LEE DERRETT SENTENCED WITH NON-HARASSMENT ORDERS AND SUPERVISION

A man from Aberdeen, Lee Derrett, has been officially sentenced after a series of serious domestic abuse incidents involving four different women. The court found him guilty of multiple charges, including threatening behavior, assault, and abusive conduct, spanning over several years and across various locations within Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.

Derrett, aged 25, initially denied all allegations but was ultimately convicted by a jury after a comprehensive trial that examined seven separate charges. The court heard detailed accounts of his violent and controlling behavior towards each of his four former partners, highlighting a pattern of intimidation, physical violence, and emotional abuse.

Regarding his first victim, Derrett was convicted of engaging in threatening and abusive conduct on numerous occasions between April 1, 2016, and September 30, 2017. During this period, he was reported to have shouted at her, acted aggressively, and made derogatory remarks aimed at her character. He accused her of infidelity, took control of her mobile phone, and monitored her interactions with others, effectively controlling her communication. The court also noted that he repeatedly struck a door and threatened to harm himself, creating a climate of fear and intimidation.

His violence extended to a second woman, with convictions covering incidents from July 1, 2017, to March 31, 2019. Similar patterns of shouting, aggressive behavior, derogatory comments, and phone monitoring were documented. Additionally, Derrett repeatedly threatened to harm himself and threatened to damage her laptop, further demonstrating his controlling and threatening demeanor. In a separate assault during this period, between November 1, 2017, and February 28, 2018, he physically attacked her by grabbing her clothing and hair, causing her to fall and hit her head against a doorframe.

Further charges related to this second partner involved a course of abusive behavior from April 1, 2019, to February 29, 2020. During this time, Derrett spat on her, physically restrained her, and prevented her from leaving her home. He also attempted to seize her mobile phone while she was making a call with an infant present, which resulted in the phone striking the child. His pursuit of her as she tried to escape underscored the severity of his controlling actions.

The third victim's case involved a series of abusive acts between May 1 and August 6, 2021. Derrett was found guilty of preventing her from contacting friends, family, and social workers, shouting at her, and repeatedly damaging property, including a door. He forcibly entered a room she sought refuge in, grabbed her mobile phone while she was attempting to call for help, and struck her with a sharp object on the neck. His assault escalated to physical violence, including striking her body, making derogatory remarks, and restricting her breathing by grabbing her neck. He also prevented her from contacting the police, punched her in the head, and deleted images of injuries he inflicted. His threats extended to setting fire to her property and causing further violence, including brandishing a knife and repeatedly holding the blade to her neck.

Derrett's conduct towards his fourth victim, between August 6 and September 29, 2021, was similarly abusive. He shouted at her, made derogatory remarks, accused her of infidelity, and engaged in self-harming behavior in her presence. He made violent threats, took her phone, monitored her contacts, and threw a phone at her. His physical assault included grabbing her by the head and preventing her from seeing her friends and family, further demonstrating his pattern of controlling and threatening behavior.

Throughout the proceedings, Derrett’s defense counsel, Graham Robertson, described his client as unemployed and cited an “unfortunate upbringing” as context for his actions. He characterized the relationships with the four women as “toxic” and suggested that Derrett struggles to manage emotional conflicts without overreacting. Mr. Robertson expressed hope that professional intervention could help reduce the risk of reoffending, noting that social workers had only assessed him as a “medium risk” and had not recommended custody.

In response, Sheriff Ian Wallace remarked that such assessments are not unusual and emphasized the importance of rehabilitation. Addressing Derrett directly, Sheriff Wallace stated, “It’s hoped that this is you growing up. It’s clear at the time you were simply not taking responsibility for your actions.”

Instead of imprisonment, the court ordered Derrett to undergo two years of supervised probation, complete the Caledonian programme for domestic offenders, and undertake 200 hours of unpaid community service. Additionally, he was subjected to a six-month curfew and five-year non-harassment orders prohibiting contact with each of the four women involved in the case. These measures aim to prevent further abuse and promote rehabilitation, reflecting the seriousness with which the court views his conduct.