DOMESTIC ABUSER PULLED WOMAN FROM UNDER BED BY HER HAIR
During a court hearing, it was revealed that a woman fleeing her abusive partner sought refuge in a neighbour's home and hid under a bed, only to be discovered and forcibly removed by her partner.The partner, Mark Stewart, 30 years old, broke into the neighbour's house after she had shouted for help and asked someone to call 999.
She then went into a bedroom and called her mother, while Stewart entered the residence and searched for her.
He eventually found her hiding under the bed, pulled her out by her hair, and assaulted her by grabbing her neck and shouting, leaving her injured.
Stewart’s actions took place between September 2024 and March 2025 in Lossiemouth and Elgin and involved controlling and violent behaviour, including shouting, swearing, pushing, and physically extracting her from her hiding place.
Court proceedings revealed that Stewart’s relationship with the woman included actions such as limiting her contact with others and controlling her finances.
Witnesses reported seeing the couple arguing loudly and Stewart pushing the woman during a particularly heated incident on a street in Elgin.
On the day of the incident, the woman ran into a neighbor’s house, screaming for help, and borrowed a phone to call her mother before hiding.
Stewart then entered the home, locating her under the bed, and forcibly pulled her out, reportedly with blood on her face at that point.
He shouted and swore at her before they left the scene.
Her mother, arriving shortly after, heard Stewart shouting and learned he had been under the influence of drugs when he threw a bag at the woman, causing an injury.
The court noted the woman appeared visibly terrified during these episodes.
Legal counsel for Stewart acknowledged his guilt but emphasized his awareness of the inappropriateness of his actions and his efforts to seek help for his issues.
The judge, noting the seriousness of the offences and Stewart’s previous convictions, sentenced him to 21 months’ imprisonment and imposed a three-year non-harassment order, prohibiting any contact with the victim during that period.
