A MAN has become the first person in Fife to be sentenced under new domestic abuse laws.

Kevin Skelton, 54, was jailed for 18 months for offences against his ex-partner when he appeared at Dunfermline Sheriff Court yesterday (Wednesday).

He was also banned from contacting his victim for five years after his release.

Before the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) 2018 Act came into legislation this year, the law only recognised the physical aspects of abuse as a criminal offence while psychological harm went unpunished.

Skelton, whose address was given as a prisoner in Perth Prison, committed the abuse between May and July of this year. At at a house in Dunfermline, at Whiteman's Brae Hospital, Kirkcaldy and at the Queen Margaret Hospital, he engaged in a course of behaviour which was abusive of his ex-partner.

On various occasions, he repeatedly shouted, uttered threats to kill her, uttered abusive remarks towards her, uttered threats to kill himself, threatened to set fire to the property and threatened to prevent his ex-partner from accessing matrimonial finances and assets.

On an occasion while she had barricaded herself in a room, he stood outside the door, sharpened knives or similar implements and attempted to force entry to the room. He brandished walking sticks at her, struggled with her, seized her mobile phone and disconnected the landline to prevent her getting help.

On July 3, at the house in Dunfermline, he also assaulted his ex-partner when he struck her on the body repeatedly with a walking stick, lunged towards her repeatedly, attempted to strike her on the body with a knife and struggled with her.

The court that the couple had been together for around 29 years but the relationship had started to deteriorate in 2017 because of the decline in Skelton's physical and neurological health.

Defence solicitor Gordon Martin said it was an "unfortunate set of circumstances". He had found it difficult to come to terms with the deterioration in his health which led to his work as an NHS nursing assistant being terminated.

"To some extent, it does perhaps explain his behaviour," he said. "It added to his general sense of frustration. Things spiralled out of control.

"It was abusive and it would have been manipulative but there are reasons that explain why these things happened without excusing them."

Sheriff Alistair Brown said the conduct had to be condemned in the "strongest possible terms."

"I recognise that functional neurological disorder can be distressing and no doubt leads to feelings of vulnerability – it is an explanation that attracts some sympathy," he said. "Nevertheless, it led to a course of appalling behaviour."

Detective Inspector June Peebles, of Fife’s Domestic Abuse Investigations Unit, said: “Over several months he subjected the victim to controlling, intimidating and abusive behaviour that is now, under the new legal framework, better recognised in law. It is well known that those who suffer domestic abuse may never experience physical violence. Instead, they are subject to degrading treatment, loss of freedom and coercive control on a daily basis, which is as damaging to both partners and children as physical abuse.

“I hope that victims of domestic abuse see this conviction today and find courage to step forward and speak out."