Moray courts – Domestic abuser punched holes in the walls

A man who used to punch holes in the walls when drunk has been banned from contacting his former partner for five years.

Elgin Sheriff Court heard that Gordon Henderson, who has now moved away from Moray, had been in a relationship with the woman since 2019.

Fiscal depute Shay Treanor said: “While under the influence of alcohol he was short tempered, showed no patience, and would humiliate and belittle her in front of her family and friends.

“The accused would often become angry and aggressive, punching holes in walls while he was drunk. He would also make comments about killing her.”

The relationship finally came to an end after she attended the MacMoray Festival without him in August last year.

She received numerous messages from him while at the music event in Elgin’s Cooper Park.

One of these stated: “I have put holes in your doors”.

Mr Treanor added that when the woman left Henderson she then received 45 messages from him on Facebook, “begging” her to come back home.

A social work report into the 36-year-old defendant, who now lives at Bettyhill on the north coast, described his views on women as “outdated and patriarcal”.

As well as banning Henderson from contacting his former partner, Sheriff Gary Aitken ordered him to take part in the Caledonian programme which is designed to counter domestic abuse.