Perth man dragged girlfriend down street after she gambled benefits

Perth man dragged girlfriend down street after she gambled benefits
An man dragged his partner down the street by her hair after hearing she had gambled away both their weekly benefits.


Perth Sheriff Court heard James Sutherland lost his temper when he heard Veronica Herman had withdrawn his weekly benefits from the bank and lost them within minutes in slot machines.

He launched the attack on his gambling addict girlfriend in front of shocked onlookers.

Although Sutherland was placed on probation, Miss Herman's actions were described as "reprehensible" as well.

Depute fiscal Stuart Richardson outlined the circumstances of the November 9 incident, which took place on Crieff Road and McLeod Court in Perth.

He said, "On the day in question, Miss Herman was out and about and had gone to the bank to withdraw some money. She spent it and then met up with Mr Sutherland.

"He found out from her that the money was spent and, for whatever reason, that seemed to cause a conflict. He began shouting and swearing and punching her. He took her by the hair onto the road."

Sutherland pled guilty to breaching the peace by placing onlookers in a state of fear and alarm.

He admitted assaulting Miss Herman, punching her on the head, seizing her by the hair and dragging her along the roadway, while shouting and swearing.

Mr Richardson said, "The police were on the scene very quickly because they were passing by. She was still there and her view at the time was she didn't want to make any complaint.

"The problem was various members of the public nearby witnessed this and they were prepared to involve the police."

Accounts emptied

Sutherland's solicitor, David Holmes, said his client had become enraged because Miss Herman had emptied their bank account of both their benefits to feed her gambling habit.

He said, "It was all their money and was all gambled away, although that doesn't excuse his actions."

Sheriff McCreadie said, "It is reprehensible using money which was meant to be for the family to go gambling with."

He took the unusual step of directly addressing Miss Herman, who was in the public gallery, to ask if she was getting medical help for her gambling addiction. She confirmed she was seeing a doctor for treatment.

Sentencing Sutherland to two years' probation, the sheriff said, "Clearly the gambling, frittering away the family's resources, was a trigger and destabilised the family situation."

Sutherland was ordered to carry out a domestic violence perpetrator's programme as part of his probation.