Scots woman abused and threatened girlfriend after Valentine's Day family fun fair outing
- Rory Cassidy
- Aug 4
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 5
A woman abused and threatened her girlfriend in a foul-mouthed rant on Valentine's Day - after a family day out at a fun fair.
Chelsea Bryan lost the plot on February 14 this year after she and her partner had gone to the pub following their family outing.
Paisley Sheriff Court heard Bryan and her partner and other family members had been at a fun fair in the Renfrewshire town during the day.
They then headed to the town's Wetherspoons pub, where Bryan drank five pints before turning on her partner in front of a child in the taxi home.
And the abuse continued once they were back at their home in the town's Cardell Drive, leaving the eight-year-old distressed by what she'd witnessed.
Bryan, 28, appeared in the dock at Paisley Sheriff Court this week to be sentenced, having admitted her guilt previously.
She had pleaded guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive way, in breach of Section 38(1) of the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010.
The charge stated she shouted, swore and made threats and that the offence was aggravated by involving abuse of her partner.
Prosecutor Rachel Hirst explained: "The witness and the accused were in a relationship for about 18 months prior to this incident.
"On February 14 this year the accused and the witness and a child attended County Square, in Paisley, to attend the fun fair.
"They met family of the accused and attended Wetherspoons for a drink with them.
"At this stage the accused became drunk."
The prosecutor said Bryan began to abuse her partner in the taxi home from the pub in question, The Last Post, in the town's County Square.
She added: "Once within their home she has continued to shout and swear at the witness, which made her feel trapped and small.
"The shouting continued and the child, who was also in the room, began to get distressed and upset.
"The witness decided to leave and to end the relationship. She contacted a friend and made her way to the friend's address."
After leaving, as she made her way to the friend's home, she noticed Bryan following her.
Bryan then shouted to the child not to go with the woman.
THe woman reported the incident to police the following month, and Bryan was arrested and made no reply when cautioned and charged by officers.
Defence solicitor Mark Johnstone said: "They had been in a relationship, as indicated, for a period of time.
"As a result of this incident, the relationship came to an end. There is no possibility of reconciliation.
"There is no intention from Miss Bryan to resume the relationship."
The case had been adjourned for background reports to be prepared ahead of sentencing, to help Sheriff Sukhwinder Gill decide the best way of dealing with Bryan.
She pointed out that Bryan had two previous convictions for the same offence, and that social workers had suggested a structured deferred sentence.
She deferred sentence for three months for Bryan to engage with mental health and substance abuse services and made her the subject of a Non-Harassment Order (NHO).
The NHO sees her banned from approaching or contacting her former partner in any way for the next two years.
Sheriff Gill said: "I see you are a lady of 28 years and that you have two previous convictions for directly analogous offending.
"You have expressed remorse. In the [background] report [prepared by social workers] you state that you had had five pints but that you were not in a bad state.
"Take it from me, you must have been in a bad state to behave in this way.
"It was a family day out that became something very difficult because of your behaviour.
"A young child was present and witnessed you shouting and swearing at your partner."
Bryan will return to the dock later this year.
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