OBAN MAN NARROWLY AVOIDS JAIL FOR DOMESTIC HARASSMENT CAMPAIGN
A domestic abuser named Salem Aouichaoui, aged 38, of St Leonards Road, Lanark, pleaded guilty at Oban Sheriff Court to engaging in a disturbing campaign of harassment against his ex-partner.His actions included sending "menacing and abusive" messages, making repeated threats of violence, hacking into her social media accounts, and persistently calling her even after she sought refuge at her sister's house.
During the court proceedings, it was revealed that he had called his ex-partner over 50 times in a single day, specifically on April 20, 2025, despite her telling him she was going to her sister's residence.
Call logs showed relentless contact from early hours of April 19, with numerous missed calls and messages.
His behavior extended to calling her while she was at the police station, with police officers advising her to answer some calls.
Despite these harrowing details, due to an error by the prosecution which limited the charges to specific dates, Aouichaoui narrowly avoided jail.
The court sentenced him to 120 hours of unpaid work and imposed a two-year non-harassment order, warning that if he fails to comply, he will face imprisonment.
The sheriff emphasized the importance of protecting victims, stating, “It’s my job to protect people — even if they don’t think they need protection.” The case called at Oban Sheriff Court highlighted his obsessive and controlling behavior, marked by acts of psychological torment and stalking, although he has no significant prior criminal record and is considered a devoted father and holds a stable job.
