MAN SPARED PRISON FOR DOMESTIC ABUSE OF DISABLED PARTNER
A GREENOCK man who demanded his disabled partner did not wear her hearing aids amid a four-year campaign of domestic abuse has been spared a prison sentence.William Watson recently appeared at Greenock Sheriff Court for sentencing, having admitted his abusive actions towards the woman at a previous hearing.
Between June 2019 and June 2023, the 37-year-old repeatedly uttered offensive remarks to her and called her derogatory names.
Watson controlled who she spent time with and demanded to know her whereabouts.
Using her mobile phone, he went through her contacts, messages and emails and contacted her friends and family pretending to be her.
He demanded that the woman did not talk to her friends and family, and that she blocked them on social media.
Watson further contacted her colleagues and requested that her employment be terminated.
Court papers state he also demanded that she did not wear hearing aids, with the offence being aggravated by prejudice relating to disability.
Sheriff Sean Lynch said: “The charge to which you pled guilty involves a sustained period of verbal, emotional and financial abuse of a vulnerable adult who was dealing with significant disabilities." Sheriff Lynch warned Watson that his offending had surpassed the threshold for a custodial sentence, noting that he had a previous conviction for a domestically-aggravated offence.
He said, however, that he was prepared to follow the recommendation of social workers who had identified alternatives to prison time.
Watson was placed on a community payback order which will see him remain under supervision for the next two years, During this time, he will be subject to a conduct requirement whereby he must inform his supervising officer of any intimate relationships he enters into.
Watson, of Dempster Street, will also be fitted with a tag and required to adhere to a nightly curfew for a period of six months.
The sentence was given as a direct alternative to a custodial sentence.
Sheriff Lynch further made a non-harassment order in favour of the partner, preventing Watson from approaching or contacting her for four years.
