MAN WHO BEAT AND STRANGLED GIRLFRIEND ORDERED TO STAY AWAY FROM HER FOR A DECADE
An Aberdeen man narrowly escaped jail after his violence against his girlfriend became so severe that she fled onto the street seeking safety.Craig Ryrie, aged 37, appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court to admit to repeatedly attacking the woman, including punching her multiple times and causing a lip injury.
When she threatened to report him to the police, Ryrie responded with further violence, restraining her on the ground and restricting her breathing through throttling.
The woman then left the premises, seeking help from a stranger who called emergency services.
The court ordered Ryrie to avoid any contact with his ex-partner for ten years.
Fiscal depute, Lydia Williams revealed that on January 11 last year, Ryrie’s partner tried to leave after a disagreement.
He reacted by punching her in the face, which caused her upper tooth to hit her lower lip, requiring dental treatment.
On May 19, around 9:35 pm, the couple argued again, and Ryrie punched her three times, opening her lip.
She ran out and attempted to call 101 but was unsuccessful, so she enlisted a friend to contact police.
He had followed her outside during the dispute.
She also contacted Ryrie’s father to pick up their child.
While the argument continued, she started recording Ryrie on her phone.
In response, he slapped the phone away and assaulted her by hitting her head.
A physical struggle followed, during which they fell onto a broken coffee table.
To protect herself, she turned onto her stomach to shield her face.
Ryrie then put her in a headlock and choked her, reducing her ability to breathe.
He kept hitting her in the head and pulling her hair.
She eventually escaped and ran to a nearby member of the public, asking for police assistance.
Meanwhile, Ryrie shouted from the house window, falsely claiming she had a knife.
He then exited and accused her of being the aggressor.
She left the scene afterwards.
Ryrie pled guilty in court to two assault charges and one threatening or abusive behaviour charge.
Defence solicitor, John McLeod, acknowledged that his client’s conduct was unacceptable and accepted full responsibility.
McLeod explained that alcohol influenced Ryrie’s behaviour, and he now understands the relationship is over.
The sheriff, Craig Findlater, recognised the seriousness of the offences as sufficient grounds for imprisonment.
Nevertheless, considering Ryrie’s background, the sheriff opted for community-based sanctions.
Ryrie was sentenced to a community payback order, requiring him to undertake 200 hours of unpaid work.
He was also ordered to participate in a program targeting domestic abuse and to adhere to a non-harassment order for ten years, preventing contact with the victim.
