CRAIG GEORGE BLACK DENNY DOMESTIC ABUSE CASE IN FALKIRK AND KINCARDINE

Craig George Black, a 51-year-old resident of Denny, found himself in Falkirk Sheriff Court last Thursday facing serious allegations of domestic abuse that spanned over a year. The court heard that Black had subjected his partner to a relentless pattern of abusive behavior, which included physically assaulting her, flipping her off a chair, and even forcefully pushing food into her face. These disturbing acts took place across several locations, notably on Elphinstone Street and Dewar Avenue, as well as at the Garries public house in Kincardine, between March 19, 2022, and March 19, 2023.

During the proceedings, it was revealed that Black had pleaded guilty to engaging in a course of conduct that was abusive towards his partner. The charges detailed specific incidents where Black kicked her on the body, pushed food into her face, struck her in the face, and flipped her off a chair, illustrating a pattern of violent and degrading behavior. The court also heard that Black had previously been subject to a community payback order for similar offenses but had subsequently breached the terms of that order.

Sheriff Alison Michie addressed the court, expressing her concerns over Black’s failure to comply with the previous community order. She stated, “He has failed to comply with his community payback order – it appears to be a complete failure to engage.” The sheriff noted that Black had prioritized his work commitments over his legal obligations and had effectively ignored the requirements of the order, choosing instead to “bury his head in the sand” regarding his responsibilities.

In light of these breaches and the ongoing pattern of misconduct, Sheriff Michie decided to give Black one final opportunity to avoid imprisonment. She revoked the existing community payback order and replaced it with a new supervised order for a period of nine months. This new order includes a condition that Black must complete 110 hours of unpaid work within six months, with 20 hours of this due to his previous breach. The sheriff emphasized the importance of engagement and ordered a review of Black’s progress in three months’ time, to assess whether he would genuinely participate in the order and demonstrate a change in behavior.