Court / Husband who threatened to kill partner placed under supervision

Content warning: This story contains details of domestic abuse. If you have been affected by this issue, help is available.

A HUSBAND who threatened to kill his partner at the end of a six month ordeal of abuse has been placed under supervision for two years.

Andrew Sylvester, whose address was given as Somerset, had previously admitted subjecting his partner to physical and verbal abuse between 1 June 2024 and 25 January 2025 in Shetland.

The 55-year-old hit her with a gas bottle, threw a lamp and photo frames at her, grabbed her by the neck and arms and repeatedly called her derogatory names during the drunken tirades.

The attacks were “often for no discernible reason”, the court was told last month.

Sylvester returned to court for sentencing today (Wednesday), with a social work report available to the sheriff.

Defence agent William McKay said his client was “very contrite” about his actions, adding he “doesn’t remember terribly much about them”.

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Mackenzie said Sylvester’s drinking escalated after the sudden death of his brother.

Sylvester became “volatile”, and he told his partner “I am what I am, you’re not going to change me” after she challenged him on his drinking.

During his outbursts Sylvester swung a gas bottle at his partner’s leg, hitting and bruising it, and on 5 November 2024 even seized hold of her neck for up to 20 seconds.

On another occasion Sylvester became angry after discovering his partner had left a small amount of handwash on the kitchen worktop, telling her she should “f***ing know better”.

He later swung a bedside lamp at her, and then threatened to push her down the stairs before telling her: “I wish I had a knife on me”.

Sylvester later grabbed her again by the neck and “stated his intention to kill her”.

The woman told her child to phone the police, which made Sylvester let go, and once he had left the home the woman did call the police.

McKay said last month his client was “very remorseful” and “deeply ashamed”, admitting it was a “serious collection of events”.

He said Sylvester had been seriously impacted by the death of his brother, adding that “people react differently with grief”.

This week, McKay said Sylvester acknowledged fully that he was the only person responsible for his conduct.

However he said Sylvester’s “failure to cope with his grief” for his brother had led to him to drink far more heavily than he usually would have.

A trip to his home of Somerset to see his brother’s children had allowed him to address some of the issues that had arisen from his death, McKay told the court.

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The court heard previously that Sylvester’s wife did not want a non-harassment order against him, and wanted their relationship to continue.

McKay said Sylvester and the woman had been meeting up, after his bail was relaxed, to go for a walk with their dogs.

The solicitor added his client had also become “abstinent” from alcohol.

He admitted this was “quite a serious matter”, and said Sylvester was prepared for the possibility that he may be jailed.

Sheriff Ian Cruickshank disagreed, calling it an “extremely serious” offence which had occurred over a “lengthy period of time”.

However he said that the social work report had shown progress from Sylvester, and he decided to place him under supervision for a period of two years.

Sylvester will also have to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work within the next year as an alternative to a custodial sentence.

The sheriff decided not to impose a non-harassment order, but requested a review within three months to ensure Sylvester was complying.