DEAN ROBERTSON

A man accused of domestic abuse avoided a trial after pleading guilty to assault just before proceedings were due to begin.

Dean Robertson admitted a charge of assault to injury at Jedburgh Sheriff Court, according to court documents provided to Red Rose UK.

The guilty plea was accepted by prosecutors before the trial got underway, bringing the case to an end without evidence being heard in court.

The victim, who asked not to be identified, said she was left frustrated after learning that two charges relating to threatening and abusive behaviour were not proceeded with as part of the plea agreement.

In a message to Red Rose UK, she said: “He pled guilty to assault to injury just before trial started.

They accepted the guilty plea, but the threatening and abusive behaviour charges were dropped.” Court paperwork confirms that Robertson entered a guilty plea to assault and that sentencing was deferred to allow the preparation of background reports and a risk assessment.

Following sentencing, Robertson was handed a four-year non-harassment order designed to protect the victim from further contact or abuse.

He was also placed under supervision for two years and ordered to attend the Caledonian Programme, a specialist intervention programme aimed at tackling domestic abuse and reducing reoffending.

The victim said she wanted others to be aware of the outcome and hoped it would encourage more victims of domestic abuse to come forward and report offences.