DUNDEE SHOP OWNER IAIN WILSON JAILED FOR DOMESTIC ABUSE
The collapse of a Dundee business made notorious in a social media meme was played out in court as former owner Iain Wilson was convicted of a domestic abuse charge.Shoppers were left perplexed in 2016 when shelves in the Nisa Supermarket on Perth Road were left unfilled, documented by the tongue-in-cheek Facebook page “There’s Nothing In Nisa”.
Wilson claimed at the time that a split with a supplier caused the shop's decline, which was once one of Scotland’s largest independent stores.
During his trial at Dundee Sheriff Court, Wilson revealed that the business failure led to disputes that resulted in his conviction.
He was found guilty of acting in a threatening and abusive manner towards his then-wife, including acting aggressively, shouting, swearing, and stabbing a knife into a counter top between January 2016 and June 2019 at an address on Silver Birch Drive, Broughty Ferry.
His former wife testified that their marriage had its ups and downs, worsened by the shop's failure, with her describing Wilson as very bad tempered, furious, and making her feel worthless.
Evidence during the trial showed that Wilson, who was once a director of Scottish Squash, had an argument while chopping peppers for dinner about money, becoming so enraged he stabbed the tip of the knife into the counter top.
Wilson claimed there was a conspiracy against him by his ex-wife and her family and said he felt humiliated by the business failure, which he linked to his ex-wife’s spending.
The court was convinced of his guilt, especially regarding the incident with the knife, and he was ordered to return for sentencing on July 1.
Wilson, who lived in Bridge of Allan, was not found guilty of assaulting a child or controlling behavior.
The case was set against a backdrop of business failure and a marriage break-up, with the sheriff noting that all witnesses were credible and that the evidence against him was convincing.
The court will consider reports and assessments before sentencing.
Wilson previously took over the Perth Road store in 2011 but described 2016 as a disastrous year due to the shop's empty shelves, which became a viral issue on social media.
The store, after closing in January 2017, was replaced by a Sainsbury’s, and his primary concern at the time was for the 20 staff employed at his shops in the area.
