BRUTE BOYFRIEND CHASED AND GRABBED GIRLFRIEND DURING VALENTINE'S WEEKEND ATTACK
A thug who assaulted and verbally abused his girlfriend on Valentine's weekend has been admonished after a court heard he had stayed out of trouble.
Thomas Bruce had admitted two domestic abuse charges against Carly Weston and was back in the dock this week to be sentenced.
But a line was drawn under the case after a judge heard the 23-year-old had been of good behaviour following his guilty pleas.
Bruce had originally pleaded guilty to chasing after Miss Weston and grabbing her by the body, in Crossflat Crescent, Paisley, Renfrewshire, on Sunday, February 16, 2020.
He has also admitted a charge of behaving in a threatening or abusive way by shouting at Miss Weston, swearing at her, bawling offensive comments, and acting aggressively in Crossflat Crescent and a flat in Howard Street.
Bruce, of Paisley, returned to Paisley Sheriff Court to learn his fate, after Sheriff Tom McCartney had deferred sentence on him for six months to be of good behaviour.
Defense solicitor Tony Callahan said unemployed Bruce, who appeared in court in a wheelchair with his leg in a cast, "has had no contact with the complainer during the period of deferral." After hearing that Bruce was suffering from "significant health issues," Sheriff McCartney said: "I deferred sentence for six months for you to be of good behaviour." He added, "I did that as, at the time, you had no other convictions and I wanted to see if there was to be no other offending." "I'm told there has been no other offending during that six-month period - that is important for me in sentencing." The judge emphasized that if Bruce found himself in court again, he would be dealt with more seriously as he now had a conviction for domestic abuse.
Additionally, he stated he did not feel a Non-Harassment Order was necessary, as he was satisfied it’s not needed.
"Any incident involving domestic abuse is taken very seriously and I would hope and expect you’ll not come back before the courts."
Court Outcome
Conviction and Sentencing Details
Verified Conviction
Detected legal outcome
The judge emphasized that if Bruce found himself in court again, he would be dealt with more seriously as he now had a conviction for domestic abuse. Additionally, he stated he did not feel a Non-Harassment Order was necessary, as he was...
Discharge or deferred sentence
A thug who assaulted and verbally abused his girlfriend on Valentine's weekend has been admonished after a court heard he had stayed out of trouble
Discharge or deferred sentence
six months
Bruce, of Paisley, returned to Paisley Sheriff Court to learn his fate, after Sheriff Tom McCartney had deferred sentence on him for six months to be of good behaviour
Discharge or deferred sentence
six months
Defense solicitor Tony Callahan said unemployed Bruce, who appeared in court in a wheelchair with his leg in a cast, "has had no contact with the complainer during the period of deferral." After hearing that Bruce was suffering from "significant health issues," Sheriff McCartney said: "I deferred sentence for six months for you to be of good behaviour." He added, "I did that as, at the time, you had no other convictions and I wanted to see if there was to be no other offending." "I'm told there has been no other offending during that six-month period - that is important for me in sentencing." The judge emphasized that if Bruce found himself in court again, he would be dealt with more seriously as he now had a conviction for domestic abuse
