Ex-restaurant boss appeals assault sentence

A former Perth restaurant owner who repeatedly physically assaulted a woman over a 21-month period has appealed against his 15-month jail sentence.

Forty-one-year-old Julien Mouly struck the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, on various occasions between January, 2013, and October 31, 2014, at various locations in Perth.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard how, on one occasion on New Year’s Day 2013, Mouly spat at the woman, seized hold of her arm and threw her to the ground before spitting on her.

This assault took place at a restaurant in Perth city centre and a taxi which picked them up from the location.

On another occasion in June 2014, Mouly struck the woman on the body with an umbrella and on other occasions, he threw her to the ground.

Mouly, of Athens, Greece, committed the offences whilst living at a property in Monart Road, Perth.

He pleaded guilty to assault and breach of the peace charges at the High Court in Glasgow in October.

His plea of not guilty to alleged sexual assaults on the same woman were accepted by prosecutors.

Judge Graham Buchanan QC deferred sentence for the court to obtain reports.

Defence Advocate Ronnie Renucci told Edinburgh High Court, where he appeared for sentence, that Mouly owned a restaurant in Perth.

He said that his client had been in the Southern European nation and had been travelling back to Scotland to consult lawyers and attend court proceedings.

The accused had subsequently lost his job as a chef in an Athens eaterie because of the case against him in Scotland.

Mr Renucci added:“He has lost his employment in Athens.”

Passing sentence, Judge Buchanan told Mouly that custody was the only sentence available to him.

He added:“These are vile and degrading assaults.”

Mouly’s appeal against his jail term is expected to be heard at a later date.