Student let off after injuring ex-girlfriend

Women’s Aid says it sends out the wrong message

A budding sports coach who found himself in court after assaulting his ex-girlfriend will escape without a criminal record after a plea from his solicitor.

University student John McNaught (23) was found guilty at trial of seizing hold of the woman and throwing her against a door – causing her to strike her head to her injury and permanent disfigurement.

The ordeal took place at a flat on Stirling’s Wallace Street on April 1 last year.

After being convicted of the offence McNaught, whose address is given as Aberdour Court in Hamilton, appeared in the dock at Stirling Sheriff Court on Wednesday morning for sentencing.

Defence lawyer Murray Aitken explained that the accused had made a £500 donation to a local children’s charity before asking that Sheriff William Gilchrist considers an absolute discharge.

He said: “Mr McNaught is a student at a local university who has just completed an honours degree and is currently awaiting his results. His intention is to go on and do a masters degree next year.

“His degree is in sports coaching and one of the requirements of any job is that he goes through a full disclosure check and a PVG [Protecting Vulnerable Groups] check.

“He and his family, who are in court supporting him, are anxious that four years of hard work are not wasted by this aberration.

“He is the first member of his family to make it to university and he did manage to complete his honours degree with the stress of this case hanging over him.”

He added: “On the night he had been out drinking with his girlfriend and this happened when they had returned. He maintains the injury was caused unintentionally.

“My submission is that the outcome would be disproportionate given the impact it would have on his future life and career prospects given the type of career he wishes to have.”

Sheriff Gilchrist said: “I accept you did not intend to hurt your girlfriend but it happened as an affect of your actions as you deliberately threw her aside.

“This is your first offence, you have been of good behaviour and you have made a donation to charity which is greater than the level of a fine. With some hesitation I will agree to an absolute discharge.”

Jessica Lindhoff, manager at Stirling and District Women’s Aid, believes that the apparent lack of punishment for this offence sends out the wrong message.

She said: “It’s so difficult for women to find the courage to come forward, and go through the whole process, and this is not a good signal to send out to victims or perpetrators.”

She added:“I’m stunned that the focus was on the person responsible for the assault and the impact it will have on their life, rather than the impact their actions could have had on the victim. I can see why people say they feel let down by the system.”

It is so difficult for women to find the courage to come forward...this is not a good signal to send out