The son-in-law of Rangers legend Gordon Smith has avoided jail after being found guilty of abusing his daughter and stopping her from seeing her family.
Libby Smith married “life coach” and tarot card reader Colin Stevenson in a lavish ceremony in 2023 with her famous dad, 71, by her side. She even had Corrie star Helen Flanagan, 36, as a bridesmaid, but three years later her then-husband has now been banned from contacting her in any form.
Admission of abuse
Stevenson, of Lanark, admitted in court abusing the 37-year-old mum of three over a period of almost three years – starting weeks before their wedding - which left her in desperate need of help.
The 43-year-old avoided jail but was slapped with a community service order and banned from contacting Libby after admitting a charge of behaving in a threatening and abusive manner towards his ex at Lanark Sheriff Court. The court heard how he prevented her family from visiting her and their newborn child.
Claims of a 'clash of styles'
Stevenson, who has two children with Libby, claimed the abuse came after a “clash of two styles of living”, with his wife’s family used to being in the public eye while he wanted a “quiet life”. But prosecutors rubbished his claim, instead saying Libby was the victim of a pattern of coercive abuse, which wanted her cut off from those that loved her.
The pair met in January 2022 when Stevenson read Libby’s tarot cards. He said the abuse began when Stevenson started criticising her parenting style as being too soft and would call her a “roaster” and went mad at her when she tried to pop to see her mum once a week.
Control during pregnancy
Later that year, Libby fell pregnant but Stevenson would not allow Libby’s mum to see or have access to the child and controlled how the mum should care for the baby. Prosecutors said: “The accused stated he did not wish for the complainer to breastfeed. She ignored that but developed mastitis. The complainer said she was too afraid to tell the accused, contracted sepsis and ended up in hospital.” The court heard during one trip to see her in hospital, Stevenson told his wife “visiting her was a waste of time and petrol”.
Mr Muir said: “During the later stages of the relationship the accused made efforts to stop the complainer seeing her friends. This resulted in the complainer only socialising with friends separately.”
Relationship ends
The court heard the relationship ended in April 2025, with Libby moving away and starting divorce proceedings, leading to the abuse intensifying.
In mitigation, his legal team stated that he wanted a quiet life but sources close to Libby claimed that was "rubbish", saying he was just controlling. One said: "He’s pleaded guilty and been through a legal process but is still trying to paint the picture it’s not his fault."
