Inverness man jailed for stabbing and assaulting woman and girl

A man identified as Martin McGinley, aged 33, has been sentenced to three years and nine months in prison for a violent assault that involved stabbing a woman with scissors and attacking a girl who tried to intervene. The assault occurred on 27 May of the previous year at a residence they shared in Inverness. During this incident, McGinley struck Lynne McGregor, 36, multiple times in the face with scissors. Additionally, he stabbed a nine-year-old girl on her arm as she twice tried to defend Ms McGregor. The court was informed that Ms McGregor remained supportive of McGinley and even expressed hope that they could be reunited. The defense argued that her belief was influenced by her deteriorating mental health. The judge, Lord Bannatyne, highlighted McGinley's extensive criminal history, which includes a seven-year sentence as a teenager for attempted murder and subsequent re-incarceration for disturbances after release. Background reports described him as a significant risk to himself and others. McGinley pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of assault causing severe injury and scarring to Ms McGregor, and also admitted to injuring the girl. The court sentenced him to nearly four years in prison, noting that the victims experienced a terrifying ordeal.