Calendar An icon of a desk calendar. Cancel An icon of a circle with a diagonal line across. Caret An icon of a block arrow pointing to the right. Email An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of the Facebook "f" mark. Google An icon of the Google "G" mark. Linked In An icon of the Linked In "in" mark. Logout An icon representing logout. Profile An icon that resembles human head and shoulders. Telephone An icon of a traditional telephone receiver. Tick An icon of a tick mark. Is Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes. Is Not Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes with a diagonal line through it. Pause Icon A two-lined pause icon for stopping interactions. Quote Mark A opening quote mark. Quote Mark A closing quote mark. Arrow An icon of an arrow. Folder An icon of a paper folder. Breaking An icon of an exclamation mark on a circular background. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Caret An icon of a caret arrow. Clock An icon of a clock face. Close An icon of the an X shape. Close Icon An icon used to represent where to interact to collapse or dismiss a component Comment An icon of a speech bubble. Comments An icon of a speech bubble, denoting user comments. Comments An icon of a speech bubble, denoting user comments. Ellipsis An icon of 3 horizontal dots. Envelope An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Home An icon of a house. Instagram An icon of the Instagram logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. Magnifying Glass An icon of a magnifying glass. Search Icon A magnifying glass icon that is used to represent the function of searching. Menu An icon of 3 horizontal lines. Hamburger Menu Icon An icon used to represent a collapsed menu. Next An icon of an arrow pointing to the right. Notice An explanation mark centred inside a circle. Previous An icon of an arrow pointing to the left. Rating An icon of a star. Tag An icon of a tag. Twitter An icon of the Twitter logo. Video Camera An icon of a video camera shape. Speech Bubble Icon A icon displaying a speech bubble WhatsApp An icon of the WhatsApp logo. Information An icon of an information logo. Plus A mathematical 'plus' symbol. Duration An icon indicating Time. Success Tick An icon of a green tick. Success Tick Timeout An icon of a greyed out success tick. Loading Spinner An icon of a loading spinner. Facebook Messenger An icon of the facebook messenger app logo. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Facebook Messenger An icon of the Twitter app logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. WhatsApp Messenger An icon of the Whatsapp messenger app logo. Email An icon of an mail envelope. Copy link A decentered black square over a white square.

Conon Bridge joiner ordered to stay away from ex-wife for four years after campaign of abuse

Sheriff Gary Aitken told Conon Bridge dad-of-five Mark McKernie that he should also stay away from alcohol for the good of him and his family.

The case called at Inverness Sheriff Court.
The case called at Inverness Sheriff Court.

A self-employed joiner has been ordered to stay away from his ex-wife for the next four years after admitting a course of domestic abuse lasting several years.

Sheriff Gary Aitken told Conon Bridge dad-of-five Mark McKernie, 35, that he should also stay away from alcohol for the good of himself and his family.

Fiscal depute Adelle Gray told Inverness Sheriff Court that McKernie’s behaviour began to deteriorate in 2020 when his wife returned from attending a show in Inverness with family. He questioned who she had been with before demanding proof.

In 2021, he wrenched her mobile phone from her hand so he could inspect it and injured her fingers.

Then at Christmas of that year, he smashed a plate over his own head.

Threatened to batter father-in-law’s skull in

The court heard that although the relationship broke down, he frequently messaged his former partner to get back with her and, while she was pregnant, he accused her of cheating on him. He claimed the baby was not his.

Ms Gray said McKernie continued to question his wife about who she was seeing, threatened to examine CCTV after she had been on a night out and sent abusive messages up until May 2024 when she received the menacing voicemail.

On that occasion, Ms Gray went on, “he was intoxicated, swore at her and also said her father would get his skull battered in”.

‘This kind of behaviour is completely unacceptable’

Defending, Rory Gowans said: “Although the marriage was over, they continued to live together and he was drinking too much.”

Commenting on the case, Sheriff Aitken said: “If he stayed away from (alcohol) he would have a better life and those around him.

“This kind of behaviour is completely unacceptable.

“But I am told you have finally realised that and are doing something about it.”

Sheriff Aitken placed McKernie under three years of social work supervision and ordered him to take part in the Caledonia Programme for men who abuse their partners.

In addition, McKernie, of Wyvis Crescent, Conon Bridge, was fined £840 for the offence under the Communications Act.