Conon joiner ordered to stay away from ex
A self-employed joiner and father of five has been ordered to stay away from his ex-wife for the next four years after admitting a course of domestic abuse lasting several years.
Sheriff Gary Aitken also told 35-year-old Mark McKernie of Wyvis Crescent, Conon Bridge that he should also stay away from alcohol.
Commenting from the bench of Inverness Sheriff Court, Sheriff Aitken said: "If he stayed away from it he would have a better life and those around him. This kind of behaviour is completely unacceptable.
"But I am told you have finally realised that and are doing something about it."
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Sheriff Aitken placed McKernie under three years of social work supervision and ordered him to take part in the Caledonia Programme for men who abuse their partners.
In addition McKernie was fined £840 for an offence under the Communications Act whereby he sent his ex-wife a voice message accusing her of turning the children against him.
Fiscal depute Adele Gray told the court that McKernie's behaviour began to deteriorate in 2020 when his wife returned from attending a show in Inverness with family, he questioned who she had been with and demanded proof.
In 2021, he wrenched her mobile phone from her hand so he could inspect it and injured her fingers.
Then at Christmas of that year, he smashed a plate over his own head having previously threatened self harm by tying a scarf around his neck.
The court heard that although the relationship broke down, he frequently messaged his former partner to get back with her and while she was pregnant, he accused her of cheating on him. He claimed the baby was not his.
Ms Gray said McKernie continued to question his wife about who she was seeing, threatened to examine CCTV after she had been on a night out and sent abusive messages up until May, 2024 when she received the menacing voicemail.
On that occasion, Ms Gray went on, "he was intoxicated , swore at her and also said her father would get his skull battered in".
Defending, Rory Gowans said: "Although the marriage was over, they continued to live together and he was drinking too much."
