{"url":"https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/crime-courts/6998832/lochaber-domestic-abuse-conviction-court-fort-william/","title":"Lochaber man guilty of domestic abuse at Oban court","domain":"pressandjournal.co.uk","imageUrl":"https://images.pexels.com/photos/5668481/pexels-photo-5668481.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&h=650&w=940","pexelsSearchTerm":"Scottish courtroom trial","category":"Other","language":"en","slug":"e4fa726f","id":"e4fa726f-8e65-4096-8426-c413a88a704c","description":"Lochaber businessman Gavin MacKinnon found guilty of domestic abuse at Oban Sheriff Court after trial.[[1]](https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/crime","summary":"## TL;DR\n- Lochaber businessman **Gavin MacKinnon** found guilty of domestic abuse at **Oban Sheriff Court** after trial.[[1]](https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/crime-courts/6998832/lochaber-domestic-abuse-conviction-court-fort-william)[[2]](https://www.facebook.com/ThePressandJournal/posts/gavin-mackinnon-was-found-guilty-after-a-trial-at-oban-sheriff-court-read-more-h/1607825568012700)\n- He engaged in abusive behaviour, including vile messages to ex-partner, from **April 1 to November 20, 2023** at locations in **Claggan** area.[[1]](https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/crime-courts/6998832/lochaber-domestic-abuse-conviction-court-fort-william)\n- Conviction highlights court response to non-physical domestic abuse in Scottish Highlands community.[[1]](https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/crime-courts/6998832/lochaber-domestic-abuse-conviction-court-fort-william)\n\n## The story at a glance\nA Lochaber businessman, **Gavin MacKinnon** of **Grant Place, Claggan**, was found guilty at **Oban Sheriff Court** of domestic abuse against his ex-partner through a course of abusive behaviour.[[1]](https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/crime-courts/6998832/lochaber-domestic-abuse-conviction-court-fort-william) The case involves vile messages sent between **April 1 and November 20, 2023**. It is reported now following the trial verdict on or around **April 17, 2026**.[[1]](https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/crime-courts/6998832/lochaber-domestic-abuse-conviction-court-fort-william)\n\n## Key points\n- **Gavin MacKinnon**, a director at West Property Group in the Fort William area, convicted after trial.[[2]](https://www.facebook.com/ThePressandJournal/posts/gavin-mackinnon-was-found-guilty-after-a-trial-at-oban-sheriff-court-read-more-h/1607825568012700)[[3]](https://uk.linkedin.com/in/gavin-mackinnon-3139864)\n- Charged with engaging in a course of abusive behaviour towards ex-partner over seven months in 2023.[[1]](https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/crime-courts/6998832/lochaber-domestic-abuse-conviction-court-fort-william)\n- Abuse involved sending a series of vile messages; trial held at **Oban Sheriff Court** serving Lochaber region.[[2]](https://www.facebook.com/ThePressandJournal/posts/gavin-mackinnon-was-found-guilty-after-a-trial-at-oban-sheriff-court-read-more-h/1607825568012700)[[1]](https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/crime-courts/6998832/lochaber-domestic-abuse-conviction-court-fort-william)\n- Incidents occurred at locations including Claggan, near Fort William.[[1]](https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/crime-courts/6998832/lochaber-domestic-abuse-conviction-court-fort-william)\n- No details available on sentence, as reporting focuses on guilty verdict post-trial.[[1]](https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/crime-courts/6998832/lochaber-domestic-abuse-conviction-court-fort-william)\n\n## Details and context\nMacKinnon lives in **Grant Place, Claggan**, a residential area in Fort William, Lochaber. He works in property, linked to firms like West Property Group Scotland Ltd and West Holidays, with offices in Fort William and Oban.[[4]](https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/SC758337/filing-history)[[3]](https://uk.linkedin.com/in/gavin-mackinnon-3139864)\n\nThe charge matches Scotland's **Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018**, which covers courses of abusive behaviour causing fear or alarm, including psychological abuse via messages without needing physical violence.[[1]](https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/crime-courts/6998832/lochaber-domestic-abuse-conviction-court-fort-william)\n\nOban Sheriff Court handles cases from Lochaber due to geography; Fort William lacks a full sheriff court for trials. Sentencing likely deferred or pending, as article reports conviction only.[[1]](https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/crime-courts/6998832/lochaber-domestic-abuse-conviction-court-fort-william)\n\n## Key quotes\nNone reported in accessible sources.\n\n## Why it matters\nDomestic abuse convictions like this one spotlight non-physical harm such as coercive messaging, which can deeply affect victims long-term in tight-knit Highland communities.\nFor locals and businesses, it flags reputational risks for professionals involved and reinforces community intolerance for such behaviour.\nWatch for sentencing at Oban Sheriff Court, which could include non-harassment orders or jail time, though details remain uncertain until reported.","hashtags":["#scotland","#highlands","#crime","#domesticabuse","#court","#lochaber"],"sources":[{"url":"https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/crime-courts/6998832/lochaber-domestic-abuse-conviction-court-fort-william/","title":"Original article"},{"url":"https://www.facebook.com/ThePressandJournal/posts/gavin-mackinnon-was-found-guilty-after-a-trial-at-oban-sheriff-court-read-more-h/1607825568012700","title":""},{"url":"https://uk.linkedin.com/in/gavin-mackinnon-3139864","title":""},{"url":"https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/SC758337/filing-history","title":""}],"viewCount":2,"publishedAt":"2026-04-17T20:09:26.199Z","createdAt":"2026-04-17T20:09:26.199Z","articlePublishedAt":"2026-04-17T00:00:00.000Z"}