Crime in Moray: Domestic abuser took knife to woman's home
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A Dufftown woman was so terrified of her partner that she filmed him with her mobile phone outside her home.
The partner had been subjected to several incidents during January last year involving Gary Ross, now of Dean Terrace, Lossiemouth.
The 34-year-old defendant previously appeared at Inverness Sheriff Court and admitted engaging in a course of domestic abuse, which included going to her home uninvited with a metal pole and a knife.
Ross also repeatedly struck her door, smashed a glass window pane and removed two wing mirrors from her car.
Fiscal depute Robert Weir previously told the court that Ross carved an offensive name on the vehicle's bonnet as well as made other scratches.
Mr Weir added: "The cost of repair was uneconomical and the car was a write-off."
The charge added that Ross threatened to cause her trouble by reporting her to the SSPCA and Moray Council.
Ross also admitted possessing an offensive weapon and breaching a bail condition not to approach her home.
Sentence was deferred for a background report.
Ross was told by Sheriff Sara Matheson: "The threshold for prison has been met due to the unpleasant and nasty nature of this offence."
However defence solicitor Robert Cruickshank managed to dissuade the sheriff from following that course.
Mr Cruickshank said: "From 2008 to 2017 he desisted from offending. So he has demonstrated an ability to behave.
"The social worker rates him at medium risk of re-offending.
"However he suffered a serious injury three months before this and it may have affected his behaviour.
"His judgment was also clouded by alcohol because in the background a third party was threatening him."
Sheriff Matheson ordered Ross, who had four previous domestic convictions, to carry out 210 hours of unpaid work.
He was also placed under the supervision of social workers for the next two years
In addition a two-year long non-harassment order was imposed to protect his victim.
The sheriff warned Ross that she was giving him "a chance" and any breach of the order would mean jail.
