Vining Froude, 26, engaged in the course of abusive conduct against his victim over a two-week period at an address on Middleshot Square in Prestonpans in January. Froude also tormented the woman by claiming that she was cheating on him and, on one occasion, he shouted, swore, seized her by the body, punched the woman in the face and struck her in the face with a book. Froude was remanded in custody at Edinburgh Sheriff Court earlier this year after admitting to the course of offending, which took place between January 16 and 29. He returned to the dock for sentencing last Tuesday, where Sheriff Charles Walls agreed to impose a community payback order as a direct alternative to custody. Sheriff Walls also imposed a non-harassment order banning Froude from having any contact with his victim for the next two years.