Elgin man jailed for assault on partner after domestic dispute

ELGIN MAN JAILED FOR ASSAULT ON PARTNER AFTER DOMESTIC DISPUTE

Thomas Crawford, aged 49 and residing in Shaw Place in Elgin, was sentenced to 76 days in jail after admitting to assault causing injury at Inverness Sheriff Court.

The incident involved him grabbing his partner by the neck and punching her following a dispute over a mobile phone.

The court was informed that the couple had been together for a year and a half and had been drinking at Crawford's home.

According to fiscal depute Adelle Gray, the argument escalated when Crawford shouted and swore at his partner, then grabbed her by the throat and squeezed it to impede breathing, before punching her on the forehead.

A witness heard her screams and alerted police, who found her with significant swelling and bruises to her neck and head.

Crawford's solicitor, Stephen Carty, explained that his client has struggled with alcohol dependence since age 13, which has impacted his physical health.

He stated that Crawford had been attempting to address his alcohol issues and was in a period of sobriety.

The incident was triggered by a heated exchange over the mobile phone, with Crawford's partner accusing him of theft and making derogatory comments about his family.

Sheriff Gordon Lamont considered a maximum sentence of 10 months but reduced it significantly because Crawford had been on an electronic tag and curfew since the offence date of June 24 last year.

The sheriff acknowledged that the electronic monitoring could be deemed as time served in custody, but also noted Crawford's previous convictions involving violence and domestic incidents.