A WOMAN who suffered abusive behaviour from her former husband was let down by authorities – after the offender was given a fine while prosecutors accepted a not guilty plea to allegedly injuring her in an assault.

Crown prosecutors have since apologised to the woman – after her ex, in his late 30s, admitted behaving in a threatening manner and damaging property after kicking doors at an address in Bank Street, Irvine and throwing a bottle which smashed a mirror.

However the defendant denied assaulting and injuring the woman. A plea of not guilty to that charge was accepted in a deal with prosecutors for admitting to the other charges during the incident last year.

But the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service have now accepted that they had enough evidence to prosecute the assault charge and they have apologised.

The woman said: “I’ve basically got an apology, admitting that they have made a mistake – but that there is nothing they can do about it because he’s been tried. They said we’re sorry and sorry we didn’t apply for a non-harassment order.

“They’ve said they will look into this so it doesn’t happen again. It’s just an absolute joke. They mistakenly thought there wasn’t enough evidence but there was medical notes and I’m getting an operation. It’s just not good enough.

“I’ve had no support from police or court system, there’s people too scared to report things like this and no wonder people. He sent messages to my mum that he got away with it – he’s a nasty piece of work.

“ASSIST [Police Scotland] put a full report in requiring a non-harassment order. I then spoke to them and the woman said I can’t understand as it says in the view of the complainant, myself, there is no need for one – but they never discussed that with me. We’re absolutely raging and I’m putting a formal complaint in.”

The accused pled guilty to the two charges with the not guilty plea to the alleged assault being accepted when he appeared to face trial at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court this month. He was fined £420 for his threatening behaviour.

A spokesperson for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service said: “The Crown is committed to improving the experiences of victims and witnesses in the criminal justice system, and to properly supporting them through the prosecution process.

“We regret the views of the complainer were not properly reflected in court, and we have been in contact to apologise for the omission and any distress caused. Additional training and guidance has been provided to prosecutors.”