Former Saints striker fined for abusing ex

Footballer's two-year campaign of torment

- DAVID MEIKLE

Footballer Kevin van Veen has been banned from contacting his former partner and ordered to pay her £3,500 after he carried out a two-year campaign of abuse against her.

The former St Mirren striker, 34, tormented the woman during incidents in Cancun, Mexico, Lanarkshire, Inverclyde and Renfrewshire.

van Veen, of the Netherlands, had denied any wrongdoing and went on trial at Hamilton Sheriff Court.

But he later pleaded guilty to a charge of engaging in a course of abusive behaviour towards her between September 2021 and December 2023.

Sheriff Shirley McKenna has now banned him from contacting the woman for five years.

The sheriff said she believed the offending did not cross the custody threshold and that he would be unable to be monitored in the Netherlands for any court orders. He will also have to pay compensation.