Man facing trial accused of physical, mental and financial abuse of woman

An alleged domestic abuser is facing trial accused of preventing his partner from getting a job, limiting her access to kitchen items and hitting a dog.

Mariusz Rebelski is accused of the offences during a three-and-a-half-year course of conduct which was abusive of his partner.

The Polish national is also accused of locking the woman outside a property, controlling her finances and refusing to let her have a bank card.

The 50-year-old denies the physical, verbal, emotional and financial abuse of the woman, driving his car at her, and assaulting two teenagers.

Prosecutors claim he abused the woman between New Years Day 2021 and August 26, 2024, in breach of Section 1 of the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018.

Court papers allege the abuse took place at a property in Elderslie, Renfrewshire, and saw him shouting, swearing, threatening violence and acting aggressively.

He is also accused of pushing her, causing her to fall to the ground and become injured, striking a dog with a stick, and not letting her have a bank card of her own while controlling her money.

The charge states he did "prevent her from taking up employment", refused to let her have a mobile phone, and locked her outside, stopping her gaining entry to the property.

A further allegation is that he did "remove kitchen appliances, food and washing detergent and storing them within a locked bedroom restricting her use of the items".

He is also accused of entering her home without permission, taking a number of household items and a set of car keys, and placing rat poison pellets outside her home.

And the final allegation in the domestic abuse charge is that he reversed his vehicle, causing her to take evasive action to avoid being struck.

In November 2022, he is alleged to have assaulted an 18-year-old girl by slapping her on the head and restraining her on the ground with his knee.

And between November 2022 and June 2023 he is accused of assaulting a 14-year-old girl "on a few occasions" by pushing her on the body.

He is also accused of driving dangerously in a Hyundai i40 on August 26, 2024, by reversing the vehicle at speed and causing the woman to avoid being struck.

Rebelski, who was assisted by a Polish interpreter during his Paisley Sheriff Court hearing on Friday, is then accused of driving off at speed.

The case was adjourned until next month, for a further pre-trial hearing to take place, and a trial has been set for April.