Surgeon in Scots court facing domestic abuse charges for the second time within a year

He acted aggressively towards his wife of thirty-four years, Ayr Sheriff Court heard.

Itamar Felsenstein appeared at Ayr Sheriff Court.

An Ayrshire surgeon has found himself in the dock for the second time in a year facing domestic abuse charges.

A concerned neighbour called the police on Itamar Felsenstein, a surgeon at Kilmarnock's Crosshouse Hospital, after they heard him acting aggressively and repeatedly shouting towards his 76-year-old wife of thirty-four years at his former Ayr home on Inverkar Road on April 25th.

Ayr Sheriff Court heard the police had received a total of nine domestic incidences surrounding the 61-year-old, now of Hyndland in Glasgow - two of which resulted in convictions.

Solicitor Robert Campbell said Felsenstein, who he described as having a "loud Mediterranean voice", felt "embarrassed to be in court".

He said: "For the second time within a year, Mr Felsenstein finds himself in court.

"The offence itself was nothing involving violence. It involved shouting."

Sheriff Mairi McTaggart replied: "It was not just shouting. It was acting aggressively."

Mr Campbell continued: "With his earlier conviction, his neighbours also called the police.

"But he is shouting, and I have told him he cannot go on behaving like this.

"I think part of it is he has a loud Mediterranean voice. He has been under considerable stress, but that is not an excuse."

Sheriff McTaggart responded: "The report points out there have been nine domestic incidences - two of which resulted in convictions.

"That is not just occasionally shouting. The police have had nine domestic incidents reported to them."

Sheriff McTaggart told Felsenstein: "You were convicted in 2021 of a similar offence and put on a deferred sentence, and you appear again before this court.

"There is going to come to a point where a deferred sentence will not be a choice.

"This cannot go on - it is not acceptable in society anymore.

"You cannot act aggressively towards your partner - do you understand that? I am going to give one more opportunity on a deferred sentence.

"Your sentence will be deferred for three months. I am going to keep an eye on you in the meantime."

Sentencing for Felsenstein was deferred until later for him to be of good behaviour and for the court to obtain a supplementary social work report.