ABUSER AVOIDS JAIL AFTER ENCOURAGING PARTNER TO SELF-HARM
A GREENOCK teenager encouraged his partner to self-harm and threatened to send intimate images of her to family and friends if she didn’t do what he wanted, a court has heard.Sebastian Smolira, now 20, has narrowly avoided jail for subjecting the woman to a campaign of domestic abuse for more than a year - when he was aged 17.
Smolira repeatedly sent threatening and abusive messages by phone and through social media, repeatedly made derogatory remarks towards the woman, now his former partner, and uttered threats of violence.
The offences were committed between March 1, 2023, and March 14, 2024 at locations in Belville Street and Ness Road in Greenock, and elsewhere.
Smolira pleaded guilty to the amended charge during the course of a trial at Greenock Sheriff Court.
Sheriff Anthony McGeehan told Smolira: “You have pled guilty to a serious offence.
“You carried out a course of domestic abuse that involved repeatedly sending a woman messages, threatening to kill yourself, and encouraging her to self-harm.” Smolira’s defence solicitor Ellen Macdonald highlighted her client’s age and his personal circumstances.
She said: “There has been a breakdown in the relationship with his father and he is currently in the Inverclyde Centre.
“He is in receipt of Universal Credit, and does have some trouble with his mental health.
“The relationship [the offences relate to] became toxic quite quickly, with both partners struggling with their mental health.” Sheriff McGeehan then spoke to Smolira directly.
He said: “Given the serious nature of your conduct and the description that we heard from the complainer and some of the physical productions, I am satisfied that the custody threshold has been met.
“The mitigating factors include the age you were at the time of the commission of the offence, as you were a child of 17, and you have no schedule of previous convictions.
“The guidelines for the sentencing of young people [set out that] rehabilitation is a primary consideration, and that applies to you.
>[There are] ways of dealing with you other than custody but that should not detract from the seriousness of this offence.” Sheriff McGeehan sentenced Smolira to a community payback order which means he will be under the supervision of social work for two years.
He also made a restriction of liberty order meaning that Smolira will wear an electronic tag for eight months.
Sheriff McGeehan also made a non-harassment order in relation to the complainer for five years.
