A LOCHGELLY man, convicted of a horrific catalogue of abuse and violence against his partner for more than four years, has avoided a jail sentence.

The victim was attacked, had her property destroyed and was subjected to controlling behaviour by Aaron Kyle.

She was assaulted when pregnant and one occasion was threatened with being set on fire.

Kyle, 38, of Dundas Street, appeared at Dunfermline Sheriff Court from custody to be sentenced having been found guilty after a trial.

He was convicted of engaging in an abusive course of conduct towards his partner between 1st April 2019 and 18th October 2023, at addresses in Lochgelly and Kelty.

He repeatedly shouted, swore, acted aggressively towards her, repeatedly made offensive remarks, repeatedly discouraged her interaction with friends and family, repeatedly demanded to know her movements and who she was with.

He destroyed household furniture and fittings, repeatedly accused her of infidelity, destroyed her personal belongings, repeatedly assaulted her and struck her.

In September 2019, he seized her by the clothing, pulled her to the floor and dragged her along the floor.

In December 2019, he threw an ashtray at her.

In January 2022, while she was pregnant, he struck her on the head and attempted to bite her on the head.

In September 2022, he made threats of violence to her while she was holding a child, aged about two months old.

In October 2022, he seized her by the throat while she was holding the child.

In January 2023, he threw a tin of alcohol at her.

On a date between 1st Feb and 31st March 2023, he made threats of violence towards her, brandished a can of deodorant in front of her and threatened to set her alight.

On 9th September 2023, he repeatedly seized her by the body, to her injury.

On 18th October 2023, he attended at her home, repeatedly kicked at the door and banged on it, making offensive comments.

Sheriff Susan Duff commented: “This should never have been on a summary complaint.”

If it had been prosecuted under solemn procedure the sentences available would have been higher.

She told Kyle he presented a risk to any woman he was in a relationship with.

The sheriff imposed a community payback order with two years of supervision and 300 hours of unpaid work.

Kyle will also take part in the Caledonian Programme for domestic offenders and has been put on a non-harassment order for a year.

In January, he was jailed for failing to do unpaid work. The offences dated back to 2019, including drug dealing.

On that occasion, Sheriff Charles Macnair told Kyle he had been fortunate to avoid jail in the first place and then he had then done only 29 out of 300 hours of unpaid work.