PAUL STEWART FROM ABERDEEN FACES COURT AFTER DOMESTIC ABUSE AND STALKING CHARGES

In a recent high-profile case at the Aberdeen High Court, 27-year-old Paul Stewart from Kincorth Land found himself at the center of a complex legal battle involving multiple serious allegations. The trial, which spanned four days, saw Stewart facing a series of charges that included accusations of sexual assault, coercion, domestic abuse, and stalking, all of which drew significant attention from the local community and legal observers alike.

Initially, Stewart was accused of raping two women in Aberdeen, with allegations suggesting that he used coercive tactics to force or manipulate them into sexual acts. The court was told that one of the women was allegedly blackmailed by Stewart into providing sexual favors, with the threat of reporting her 'dirty' living conditions to social services. It was also claimed that Stewart forced one of the women to have sex with him inside his vehicle at a lay-by, an allegation that Stewart vehemently denied during his testimony.

When questioned about these allegations, Stewart, who maintained his innocence, argued that such acts were consensual. He even claimed that he would testify to suggest that his accusers had conspired against him. His defense attorney, Gareth Reid, challenged the credibility of the accusations, asking Stewart if certain acts, such as forcing a woman to perform oral sex or to masturbate him, were true. Stewart responded with clear denials, stating, “No, it is not something I like,” and “Again, no, it’s not something I like,” when asked about forcing a woman to perform oral sex or to masturbate him.

Further, Stewart was questioned about an incident involving a woman who had recently given birth. He denied forcing her into any sexual activity, asserting that women need time to recover after childbirth. Despite these denials, the court found him guilty of domestic abuse related to harassment, specifically for flooding a woman with an excessive number of text messages. The victim herself admitted that the messages were overwhelming, and her mother testified that she had taken her daughter’s phone away because Stewart was constantly messaging her, which she described as “disturbing.”

As the case progressed, it was revealed that the woman had moved from a refuge into her mother’s home due to the ongoing harassment. During cross-examination, Stewart claimed that the women had fabricated the rape allegations, believing they were conspiring against him. The prosecution, led by advocate depute Alistair Murray, argued strongly that Stewart was a sexual predator who had bombarded the women with messages, threatening to contact social services and send pictures of her house if she refused his advances.

After deliberation, the jury returned a verdict that the charges of rape were “not proven,” acquitting Stewart of the most severe sexual offences. However, they found him guilty by majority verdicts on the charges of domestic abuse, stalking, and controlling behavior. Stewart was convicted of controlling one woman by isolating her from her friends and family, physically assaulting her by seizing her by the neck, pinning her against a wall, and brandishing a knife. Additionally, he was found guilty of monitoring and excessively contacting another woman through social media and text messages.

Judge Graham Buchanan addressed Stewart following the verdict, emphasizing the seriousness of the domestic abuse convictions. He acknowledged that while Stewart was acquitted of the more severe sexual offences, the domestic abuse charges were significant and taken very seriously by the court. The judge deferred sentencing until background reports could be prepared and ordered Stewart to be released on bail, with a return to court scheduled for the following month.