Angus man jailed after dragging girlfriend in 10th offence in two years

ANGUS MAN JAILED AFTER DRAGGING GIRLFRIEND IN 10TH OFFENCE IN TWO YEARS

A sheriff has imprisoned a man from Montrose for his tenth domestic offence within two years, during which he maliciously dragged his distressed girlfriend across a street by her legs.Thomas McNeil, aged 30 and residing on Hill Street, was sentenced at Forfar Sheriff Court after admitting to threatening behaviour on Ferry Street, Montrose, on July 7, and damaging two televisions, a table, and a cupboard.

He also pleaded guilty to assaulting his partner by repeatedly grabbing her and dragging her along the ground.According to prosecutor Jill Drummond, the couple had initially planned to travel to Dundee but argued over drugs, which McNeil allegedly claimed to have flushed down the toilet, convincing his partner to go alone.

He then drank heavily and caused further trouble in Dundee before returning to Montrose around 9:30 pm.

Later, he phoned his girlfriend about more drugs, and neighbors heard him damaging property around 1 am.

When she returned to retrieve belongings the next afternoon, she heard McNeil banging at the door and was forced to climb out of a window, falling onto the road where McNeil was standing over her.

She pretended she couldn't stand, but he grabbed her and pulled her by her wrists before dragging her along the street by her legs.During the hearing, defense lawyer Nick Markowski stated, “Despite this incident, and the negative social work report, it appears that the relationship is set to continue.”Sheriff Gregor Murray sentenced McNeil to eight months imprisonment, commenting: “It is clear you are toxic to her, or she is toxic to you, or both.

These are your ninth and tenth domestic aggravated offences in two years, and it is only fortunate she was not badly injured.”