A man who barged his way into his ex-partner’s home in Perth, took her mobile phone from her during a row then trashed a number of household items on his way out again has been ordered to do unpaid work as his punishment.
Perth Sheriff Court heard last week Colin Swan went to his former partner’s Perth address uninvited at around 5pm one evening and started ringing her doorbell while she was on the phone to her father.
Fiscal depute Elizabeth Hodgson said the woman moved to lock the door when she realised it was Swan ringing the bell but he then began hitting the door and demanding she let him in.
“He began banging the door and appeared to be under the influence of alcohol,” she said.
“She ended the phone call with her father as she did not want him to hear the accused shouting whilst he was intoxicated.”
Ms Hodgson said Swan then pushed his way past the woman after she partly opened the door and got inside the property.
“The complainer had a mobile telephone at the time,” Ms Hodgson said. “The accused grabbed the mobile phone from her.
“The accused then went to the front door and the complainer followed demanding he return her mobile phone.
“The accused refused and grabbed a picture frame sitting on top of a cabinet and threw it.”
Ms Hodgson said Swan also lashed out at a hanging basket as he made his way out of the property.
“The accused walked off continuing to shout and swear at the complainer and this was witnessed by members of the public,” she said.
Swan (44), of Canal Street, Perth admitted damaging property belonging to another person on June 25, 2020 by throwing the picture frame and striking the hanging basket.
He further admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner on the same date by shouting, swearing, repeatedly striking the front door, forcing his way into the property and seizing a mobile telephone.
Defence solicitor Linda Clark said in mitigation Swan had since sworn off alcohol and had repaired the damage he did to the woman’s hanging basket.
“Clearly consuming alcohol and turning up at the house was no assistance to anyone,” she said.
Sheriff William Wood told Swan: “I’m delighted to hear that you have finally woken up to the damage drinking can do.”
He sentenced Swan to complete 85 hours of unpaid work within six months for his offending.
