A GREENOCK domestic offender who subjected his wife to 18 months of controlling and abusive behaviour has claimed he didn’t mean her any harm.

Ivan Fossouo regularly referred to his victim by terms such as ‘psycho’ and ‘stupid’, limited her access to joint bank accounts and demanded she sought permission from him to buy clothing.

Fossouo, 36 – who has been given a communitybased sentence -– also followed her and viewed messages without her consent during the lengthy period of offending

He was convicted following a trial at Greenock Sheriff Court but still maintains that he ‘did not seek to cause any harm’ to the victim, a sentencing hearing was told.

Fossouo accompanied the victim on social outings with her friends despite being asked not to, while he also accessed her text messages without her knowledge or permission.

The offences were committed between April 2019 and September 2020 at an address in Greenock and elsewhere.

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Fossouo was found to have shouted at the woman and placed her in a state of fear and alarm and on various occasions he leaned into a vehicle occupied by the woman and refused to exit having been repeatedly requested by her to do so.

On multiple dates between August and September 2020, he followed the woman on foot and in a vehicle and also loitered near her.

Sheriff Sheena Fraser told the court that she had 'some concerns' about first offender Fossouo 'minimising the harm that might have been caused by his behaviour'.

Defending, Aidan Gallagher said: "He accepts part of the behaviour as being criminal but in his own mind he did not seek to cause any harm of any nature towards his wife. But clearly the view taken by her was very different.

"He gave evidence, he gave his position but he has to respect the decision of the court."

Sheriff Fraser sentenced Fossouo, of Cawdor Crescent, to a community payback order with 18 months of supervision and 150 hours of unpaid work to be completed within 12 months.

A three-year non-harassment order was also imposed.