Court hears man became abusive towards his partner after he felt she defrosted too many chicken
Last updated 26th May 2025
A court in the Scottish Borders has heard a 33-year-old man asked his partner to defrost some chicken for a meal and became abusive towards her when he felt she had defrosted too many.
Jon Renton grabbed the woman by the hair and pulled her to the ground - causing their Staffordshire bull terrier to become "animated" - before pushing her face towards the dog, causing it to bite her on the cheek.
His solicitor, Ross Dow, said: "He didn't hold (her) head down so the dog would bite her but.... accepts this is what happened."
Renton also induced the woman to attend an appointment to terminate a pregnancy, struck her to the face in the presence of children, and controlled her finances - as well as who she socialised with - during a five-year campaign of abuse.
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On one occasion, Selkirk Sheriff Court heard the Hawick car detailer became angry during a shopping trip to Aldi in Galashiels - claiming the woman was speaking too loudly.
He called her an embarrassment and, when outside the store, pushed her against a car and struck her on the head - adding that he would "give her something to cry about".
He also repeatedly made offensive and derogatory remarks towards the woman and threw household items, including a high chair and kitchen utensils, at her.
Renton - who gave an address in Leitholm, Berwickshire - previously pled guilty to what a Sheriff described as a "truly appalling course of conduct" against his partner or former partner, and sentence was deferred for background reports.
The domestic abuse took place at addresses in Hawick and elsewhere in the Scottish Borders between August 5th, 2018 and July 7th 2023.
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On his return to court this week, Mr Dow explained his client had been diagnosed with a personality disorder and no longer drinks or uses cannabis, having self-medicated in the past.
Sheriff Peter Paterson revealed his immediate reaction was that Renton - who has now split from his partner of ten years - needs to go to jail, but that that would mean a loss of financial support for his children.
And, he added, it's important that the court takes a step back and attempts to put aside the "anger and revulsion" for his appalling conduct, and try to be objective.
Renton was instead given a 12-month curfew, which means he must remain at home between 7pm and 6.30am; and ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work, as a direct alternative to custody.
He has also been banned from approaching or contacting, or attempting to approach or contact, his victim for five years, and must pay her £2000 in compensation.
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