A 28-YEAR-OLD who displayed controlling behaviour towards his partner has been placed on supervision for two years as part of a Community Pay Back Order.

William Evans was also ordered to attend the Caledonian Men’s Programme and told his sentence was an alternative to custody.

He pleaded guilty to engaging in a course of conduct which was abusive to his partner at houses in Galashiels and Selkirk and elsewhere over a three-year period.

Depute fiscal Fiona Hamilton said the relationship started in 2016 but when Evans inherited a significant amount of money his behaviour changed significantly and developed a drug problem and was violent towards her.

The woman’s mother said that her behaviour totally changed and would not invite people to her home.

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Ms Hamilton said: “The partner would receive calls from the accused demanding to know where she was and what time she would be home.

“When she did go out she said she would need to return as soon as possible to avoid the grief which inevitably happens she she does return home.”

The fiscal also heard how the nurse’s former partner was not allowed to their home address and that Evans would constantly check the photos and call history on her phone.

Earlier this year Evans, in a fit of temper, punched walls at a house in Selkirk, and threw food items at her.

In May, when he was unwell, he asked her to bring him a glass of milk and threw it at her.

In July, Evans got hold of her phone and looked at her photos which were of herself and then demanded to know who she had sent them to.

Ms Hamilton said: “He pushed her down onto a seat and slapped her. He then said ‘look what you made me do’.”

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After that incident the woman contacted the police.

When police visited the home they could smell cannabis and a cannabis cultivation was found in the property containing seven plants.

Defence lawyer Ross Dow said his client – who suffered from ADHD – had been self-medicating on cocaine.

He had grown the cannabis to pay off a drug debt.

Mr Dow added: “He says he has not taken drugs since he was arrested.”

Sheriff Peter Paterson said: “These are extremely serious matters.”

He took into account Evans had shown remorse for his behaviour and had made efforts to deal with his cocaine addiction.