Elgin man admits domestic abuse
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An Elgin man who carried out a 27-month campaign of domestic abuse against his partner will be sentenced next month.
Lee Francis admitted the offence when he appeared at Inverness Sheriff Court on Monday.
The 52-year-old also pleaded guilty to breaching his bail by contacting her after he had been charged.
Sheriff Ian Cruickshank was told they had been in a relationship for five years before getting married.
Fiscal depute Pauline Gair said: "The relationship had its ups and downs especially when they both had consumed alcohol."
On one occasion while the couple were staying in Newburgh, he threw a glass which severely injured her.
Ms Gair said: "It smashed on her arm as she put it up to protect herself and she needed hospital treatment in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary."
The court also heard about two incidents when the pair were staying in Elgin's Premier Inn.
One resulted in him shouting, swearing and calling her offensive names.
The second involved him struggling with her.
On another occasion Francis switched a mobile phone to voice record, then covertly placed it on top of a wardrobe at a house in Ellon.
However she discovered the device.
Ms Gair said: "He stated that he wanted to know what she was doing when he was not there, suggesting infidelity."
The defendant's address was given in court papers as Hardhillock Avenue, while the offences that he admitted all took place between September 2019 and the end of 2021.
Sentence was deferred until August 25 for a background report and restriction of liberty order assessment.
