A Renfrew man has been ordered to take part in a domestic abuse programme after he put the safety of two kids at risk when he pulled on the handbrake of his ex-girlfriend’s car while she was driving.
Jobless dad Christopher O’Donnell, 32, also screamed abuse at his former partner Karen Fraser and threatened to ‘drag her out by the hair’ at Phoenix Retail Park, in Linwood, after he insisted she was driving the wrong way to a Halloween costume shop.
Sheriff Laura Mundell blasted O’Donnell’s actions as “extremely dangerous” and was considering sending the unemployed father to prison.
Sheriff Mundell took a step back on sentencing and imposed a “direct alternative” to custody that will see O’Donnell undertake the Up To You programme - designed for men with convictions of domestic abuse - and complete unpaid work in the community.
Sheriff Mundell said: “I seriously considered sending you to jail today.
“It was an extremely serious offence, particularly the step you took to pull on the handbrake of a moving vehicle from your back seat position.”
Defence agent, Anthony Callaghan explained O'Donnell has a previous conviction for domestic abuse.
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Paisley Sheriff Court previously heard: “Around 7pm on Friday, October 29, the accused was within McDonald’s at the Phoenix Retail Park with two children.
“At that time, the accused was waiting on a taxi for approximately two hours to drop the children at a location before returning home.
“Unable to get a taxi, O’Donnell contacted his ex-partner Karen Fraser and she attended.
“O’Donnell and the two children got in to Ms Fraser’s vehicle. The accused sat in the rear seat behind his ex-partner.
“On entering the car, O’Donnell began shouting and swearing and acting in an aggressive manner.
“He stated: ‘You better drive me to Hillington right now or I’ll drag you out by the hair and drive myself.’
“The accused then began to repeatedly punch the back of the driver’s chair.
“Scared for her safety and the safety of the children, Ms Fraser drove out of the retail park towards Hillington.
“On approaching the slip road for the A737, the accused stated ‘This isn’t the right f*****g way.’
“And the accused took hold of the handbrake and pulled it and the vehicle suddenly was brought to a halt in the road.
“Ms Fraser released the handbrake and accelerated and drove to Hillington Industrial Estate.
“The accused asked Ms Fraser to go in to a Halloween costume shop with him, but she refused.
“The accused said ‘You will come with me to the shop right now’ in an threatening and abusive manner.
“Ms Fraser accompanied him into the shop and left a short time later.
“They all travelled back to Renfrew where O’Donnell left the vehicle and on November 1 Ms Fraser contacted the police.”
O’Donnell was ordered to carry out 135 hours of unpaid work and was placed under supervision for 12 months with the requirement he undertakes the Up To You programme.
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