Scottish Premier League footballer accused of campaigning violence against girlfriend

A Scottish Premier League footballer has appeared in court accused of a campaign of violence against his ex-girlfriend.

Kevin van Veen is accused of pushing her off a bed while she was pregnant and forcing her to the ground, forcing her to strip and stand naked during arguments, and repeatedly locking her in his home.

The St Mirren striker was arrested at Glasgow Airport on Tuesday 6 August. He appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court on Thursday, October 31.

It is alleged that between September 1, 2021 and July 28, 2024, the 33-year-old controlled her by limiting her contact with family and friends, monitoring her clothing, monitoring her phone and social media activities, and deleting messages. and images from her cell phone.

The alleged abuse reportedly took place at properties in Uddingston, Inverclyde and Bridge of Weir, as well as during a trip to Cancun, Mexico.

The Dutch national allegedly repeatedly accused his ex of cheating, repeatedly demanded personal information from her, repeatedly demanded that she come to his home, repeatedly disturbed her sleep, stalked her by calling her and her family and sending messages, sent abusive and Threatening messages containing false information repeatedly showed up at her and her family’s home uninvited, loitering there, refusing to come out, and peering into windows.

He is accused of threatening to harm himself if the relationship ended.

The indictment also alleged that he pulled down her ex’s clothes and underwear to expose her body without her consent, removed used hygiene items from trash and showed them to people, repeatedly locked her in his home, followed her into the bathroom on multiple occasions, repeatedly forced her to stand naked during arguments, repeatedly grabbed her body and applied pressure to prevent her from leaving, causing her bodily harm, forced a pillow to her head, grabbed her body and twisted it, causing her bodily harm, hit her on the body with his hand, causing her to fall against the wall and to the ground, and also pushing her off the bed while she was pregnant, causing her to fall to the ground.

Van Veen, who signed a season-long loan with the club in August, appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court on Thursday.

He did not enter a plea and the case continued. He is due back in court on November 28.

Van Veen previously played for Motherwell and Kilmarnock. He did not feature for St Mirren’s match against Rangers on Sunday due to injury.

During his pre-match press conference on Tuesday, St Mirren coach Stephen Robinson said the last few weeks had been his toughest period as a manager.

It comes after St Mirren defender Sean Rooney left the club by mutual consent after he was charged with assaulting a teenager during a takeaway in Glasgow.

Rooney was suspended last month after police confirmed he had been arrested and charged with assaulting an 18-year-old woman.

He has not yet appeared in court.