MARK GILHESPY FROM BOLDON COLLIERY AND SHETLAND FOUND GUILTY OF DOMESTIC ABUSE IN LERWICK

In a detailed court case held at Lerwick Sheriff Court, Mark Gilhespy, a 36-year-old man originally from Boldon Colliery in Tyne and Wear, has been convicted of serious domestic abuse charges involving his former partner. The proceedings revealed a disturbing pattern of violence and emotional manipulation that spanned several months, culminating in physical assaults and coercive control that left the victim feeling trapped and terrified.

During the trial, the woman, who appeared via video-link from her residence in Lerwick, recounted how Gilhespy had physically restrained her within her own home, preventing her from leaving at critical moments. She described an incident where he grabbed her by the throat and forcefully threw her to the floor while she was naked, an act that left her visibly distressed and shaken. The court was also shown seven highly offensive voicemails left by Gilhespy, in which he called her derogatory names such as “dirty tramp” and “horrible skank,” further illustrating the emotional abuse she endured.

Text messages read aloud in court painted a grim picture of her suffering, with her stating that Gilhespy had made her “feel like a prisoner in my own home.” She expressed her anguish, saying, “Never in my life have I been treated the way you treated me,” to which Gilhespy responded with a message hinting at suicidal thoughts, suggesting he might take his own life. Duncan MacKenzie, the procurator fiscal, commented on this behavior, describing Gilhespy’s actions as “guilt-tripping” her with the threat of self-harm.

The relationship, which lasted from July until October 3rd of the previous year, deteriorated significantly once the victim moved into a flat in Lerwick, where Gilhespy also spent most of his time. She explained that Gilhespy’s attitude changed markedly, revealing a possessiveness that extended to her interactions with others. “Mark just changed,” she said. “He didn’t particularly like me spending time with anyone else but him, including family. He questioned me on everything I was doing and accused me of having relationships with co-workers, just for getting a lift home.” She also recounted being called names such as “whore,” “slut,” and “liar,” which contributed to her withdrawal from social interactions, making it easier to avoid seeing friends and family.

Her distress was compounded by persistent messages from Gilhespy, sometimes up to ten times a day, even when he was visiting his son in Newcastle, his hometown. She described how his behavior became “really quite nasty” when he doubted her honesty, often calling her names and laughing at her distress. “There were times when he would laugh in my face and call me a liar,” she said. “It was almost like he enjoyed it.”

The violence escalated during the final week of their relationship. The victim recounted an incident where a colleague gave her a lift home, and Gilhespy accused her of sleeping with the driver. She attempted to leave but was physically prevented from doing so. “At one stage I was holding on to my front door and trying to prise it open, and he was pushing the door closed, grabbing and pulling me,” she explained. The following morning, she said Gilhespy remained fixated on the man who had given her a lift, and in a subsequent attack, he grabbed her by the neck and threw her onto the floor.

Another assault occurred after she made a “stupid drunken decision” to visit Gilhespy’s home early one morning. She described how he shouted and swore at her before pinning her to the sofa and jamming her leg in the door as she tried to leave. She added that this ordeal lasted for what felt like hours. Police photographs taken after the incident showed bruising on her arms, elbows, and shoulders, evidence of the physical violence she suffered.

Gilhespy’s defense lawyer, Tommy Allan, suggested that the victim “gave as good as she got,” pointing to injuries Gilhespy had also sustained during the altercations. The woman insisted that her actions were solely in self-defense. While Gilhespy acknowledged he would not leave court with a “ringing endorsement of his character,” he denied physically assaulting his partner.

However, Sheriff Ian Cruickshank found her testimony to be “credible and reliable,” and concluded that the evidence was sufficient to establish Gilhespy’s guilt. The case was adjourned until June 8th for the preparation of social work reports, with sentencing scheduled to follow after that assessment.