Attack victim shouted for help in hotel

A terrified woman ran into the corridor of a Highland Perthshire tourist town hotel, screaming for help, after she was attacked by her boozed-up boyfriend.

But 20-year-old Gordon Gibson pursued her before repeatedly punching her on the face, knocking her to the ground.

Another guest saw she was bleeding from the mouth and took her to“a place of safety,”Perth Sheriff Court was told.

Meanwhile, her boyfriend had taken off in a car - and it later emerged he had been more than double the drink/drive limit.

He was jailed for a total of six months and disqualified from driving for 45 months.

Sheriff Lindsay Foulis described it as a“nasty offence”involving two separate attacks.

The first had taken place inside the room at Pitlochry’s Westlands Hotel.

She had then escaped but he had pursued and caught her before delivering“a number of blows”to her head, which drew blood.

“Not withstanding the plea made on your behalf, I consider it’s eminently appropriate you lose your liberty.”

Gibson admitted assaulting Stacey Sommerville in the Atholl Road hotel on February 17 this year and then driving on the A924, between Westlands Hotel and Fisher’s Hotel, both Pitlochry, with 47 microgrammes of alcohol on his breath.

He also used the vehicle without insurance.

Depute fiscal Michael Sweeney said they had been in a relationship for around a year and had gone to the Coach House bar in nearby Fisher’s Hotel for drinks with friends.

During the evening, Ms Sommerville and the accused became separated and she returned to the Westlands with her friend.

Gibson was already there and he “became angry.”

The fiscal added:“There were accusations between the pair which resulted in him grabbing her by the hair.”

She tried to get away by running from the room but he caught up with her and then inflicted several blows to her face.

Another guest could see she was bleeding from her mouth.

Shortly before midnight, Gibson was seen on CCTV getting into his partner’s car and driving off.

He was traced shortly before 1am and failed a roadside breath test.

A solicitor for the accused said his partner was in court.

She viewed the incident as a “one-off ”and was“hopeful”the relationship could re-commence.

He had been prescribed antidepressants and combined with the alcohol he had taken, that “contributed to the level of intoxication he was feeling.”

The lawyer urged the sheriff to consider a community-based disposal.

But Sheriff Foulis noted the accused, of Scott Place, Lochore, had two previous convictions from 2016 of a domestic nature.

He also had an earlier drink/driving related matter within the past 10 years - and imposed the jail term and lengthy ban.