Moray man jailed after admitting to assault of partner in Glenesk Road property in Lhanbryde

A 29-year-old man who tried to throttle his partner has been jailed for 13 months.

Homeless William Mutch, or Youngson, was appearing for sentence before Sheriff Eilidh Macdonald after previously admitting to assaulting his partner in a house in Glenesk Road, Lhanbryde on April 26.

Inverness Sheriff Court heard that he seized her by the neck, restricted her breathing, threw her onto a sofa, ripped off her clothes, pinned her to a wall, and struck her on the head.

Sheriff Macdonald described it as "an extremely violent and dangerous episode.”

Saying: “She had to escape from you and get help from others. I find it to be a serious incident and there is no alternative to custody."

The Sheriff also imposed a five-year-long non-harassment order to protect the victim but backdated the prison term to May 6 when Youngson was remanded.

The Sheriff had rejected a plea by Youngson's solicitor, Stephen Carty not to jail his client.

He said: "There seems to be a significant change in his attitude while in custody.

“He has attended various courses in terms of his alcohol abuse and for education.

"He accepts the relationship is over and the impact this has had on his partner. He would benefit from some input from the Criminal Justice Social Work team and he would comply with any programme requirement.

“He will also get an address fairly quickly on his release."

But Sheriff Macdonald told Mr Carty and Youngson: "there is no alternative to custody."