A teenage girl resorted to self-harming after her 'controlling and abusive' boyfriend mailed a naked photograph of her to family members. Brendan Gray's behaviour during their short relationship left his young victim 'broken', Airdrie Sheriff Court was told.
Abusive Conduct Admitted
Gray, 20, of Monkland View Crescent, Bargeddie, admitted a course of abusive conduct towards the girl between December 1, 2024, and March 24 last year. The girl was only 16 when they started seeing each other.
Flora McCamley, prosecuting, said: 'Brendan Gray became controlling and abusive within four weeks. He took her phone from her every weekend and controlled her that way and by threatening to send intimate images to her family.'
Incidents of Violence and Threats
Ms McCamley outlined a number of arguments with Gray 'paranoid' that his girlfriend had sent messages to another male. On one occasion he got so angry he punched a hole in a bedroom door at her home. Another time his abusive comments led to her having a panic attack, feeling physically sick and locking herself in the bathroom.
Gray told her to self-harm, threatened to burn down her home and said he would send someone 'to do her in'. Ms McCamley told the court: 'Gray sent an intimate image of the girl to her family with the caption 'your slut of a daughter'. She felt broken by this. He posted a further intimate photo on Snapchat which she received notification of.'
Phone Destruction and Assault
On March 22 last year Gray threw his girlfriend's phone into bushes and she couldn't find it. She recovered the phone the next day but Gray took it from her again and kicked it and threw it against a wall, damaging the device. He then pinned her against a wall and struck her on the face with a jacket.
He sent threatening and abusive messages on Facebook and Snapchat, demanding she delete social media contacts and threatening to set her house on fire, burn her clothing and cave her in. The police were contacted and officers found the girl to be distressed. She disclosed that she felt very low and had self-harmed.
Sentence Deferred
Sentence on Gray, who is currently on a community payback order for another matter, was deferred until next month for background reports.
