ABERDEEN BUSINESSMAN GUILTY OF PROLONGED ABUSIVE CONDUCT TOWARDS WIFE
An Aberdeen businessman who had become "obsessed" with his estranged wife following their separation was ordered to stay away from her for two years.Steven Kurek, 39, admitted in Aberdeen Sheriff Court to physically and mentally abusing his wife for over a year after she ended their relationship.
During the court proceedings, it was revealed that Kurek tracked his wife's bank transactions and photos on her mobile phone to monitor her activities, even following her to a hotel where she was staying and refusing to leave the reception when she sought a break.
It was also stated that Kurek entered his wife's bedroom while she was sleeping and struck her across the face.
He later threatened her new partner.
The court heard that Kurek and his wife had been married but separated in 2019.
Despite living apart, when Kurek lost his job in May 2020, he moved back to the family home for financial reasons, sleeping in the spare bedroom.
The wife made it clear she did not want to rekindle their relationship, although Kurek believed it could be saved during this period.
It was reported that he called his wife daily, shouting, swearing, and calling her derogatory names.
He questioned her about clients and other men she was seeing, checked her handbags and bank accounts, and browsed through her photos without her consent.
Kurek also contacted her friends to quiz them about her activities.
On one occasion, his wife booked into a hotel to get away from him, but Kurek tracked her down using her bank details and went to her hotel, causing alarm.
He also assaulted her by slapping her while she was asleep and frightened her by grabbing her face and swearing at her when she ignored his advances.
In August 2021, Kurek canceled her car insurance and phone contract without informing her, claiming it was to make her appreciate his financial support.
He was also upset when she started a relationship with another man, and he called the man threatening to harm him.
Kurek pleaded guilty to a course of abusive conduct towards his wife.
His defense solicitor stated that his client had become somewhat obsessed with her whereabouts and her interactions with others but had since moved on and was now in a new relationship.
The sheriff recognized that the offenses had taken place over an extended period and emphasized the need for a punitive response.
Kurek was sentenced to a community payback order with supervision, required to complete 180 hours of unpaid work, and was placed under a non-harassment order preventing him from approaching his wife for two years.
