Kenneth Donald jailed after tasering partner because 'she was having too long a Sunday lie-in'

A man who tasered his partner because he thought she was having too long a Sunday lie-in has been jailed for 22 months.

Kenneth Donald, 37, attacked his girlfriend of seven years with the electronic stun gun, as she lay in bed the morning after an evening’s drinking with him at his home in Raploch, Stirling.

Stirling Sheriff Court heard that at some point in the morning, Donald, who was already up, had “insisted” that the woman should get up too.

He said, “Come on, get up.”

The woman replied, “Five minutes, I’m rough”, but Donald said “Get up or I’ll taser ye”.

Prosecutor Laurelle Johnstone said: “A short time later, as [the woman] was falling back asleep, the accused took a taser device and activated it against her leg, causing her severe pain and thereafter reddening to her right thigh.”

The woman reported the incident to police the following month.

The court heard that an 11-year-old girl, who had been there and witnessed what Donald had done, had filmed the incident on her mobile phone and the brief resulting video was played in court.

It showed Donald “clicking” the taser against the woman and laughing.

The incident occurred on February 19, 2023.

Donald was arrested in his car in Bannockburn, Stirling, on March 30 after police viewed the video and obtained a warrant to search his home.

The taser, a pack of taser cartridges, a taser charging plug and cables, as well as a knife in a black cover were recovered from the rear of the vehicle.

Donald, of Raploch, appeared for sentencing on Wednesday by video link from Low Moss Prison, after pleading guilty last month to possessing the taser, assaulting the woman to her injury, and possessing the knife.

Defence solicitor Fraser McCready said: “I’ve asked him why he bought the taser. He can’t really provide an explanation. He certainly bought it online and used it as a joke.

“But a joke is not a defence to a charge of assault.”

Imposing the 22 month jail term, Sheriff Keith O’Mahony said Donald had a record which includes domestically-aggravated matters.

He said: “These offences are possession of a taser, assault with that taser to injury, and possession of a knife.

“In my view there is no alternative to a custodial disposal.”

Donald showed no emotion as sentence was passed.