Jail for drug dealer who jumped on woman’s leg

COURT: Man put former girlfriend through terrifying ordeal before kicking out at police officers in hospital

A drug dealer who jumped and stamped on his ex-partner’s leg during a vicious attack and tried to flush heroin down a hospital toilet has been jailed for 30 months.

John Brand had only been in a relationship with his victim for a month when he turned violent and subjected her to the terrifying attack.

When he heard he was being jailed for two a half years, furious Brand hit out and told Dundee Sheriff Court: “This is not fair at all.

“If I had known I was going to go down like this I would have pled innocent and gone to court. Thirty months is a joke.”

Depute fiscal Saima Rasheed told the court: “They had been in a relationship for a month which ended in October 2019.

“On the evening of November 26 they were together with a friend consuming alcohol. The complainer fell asleep. At 4.25am she was awakened by the accused shouting.

“They tried to get him to leave. The key had been removed earlier because he was aware police were looking for him.”

She said the woman tried to calm down Brand but he reacted angrily and grabbed her throat before throwing her to the ground.

“He pushed her with such force that she fell to the ground. She got back up. He pushed her into the bedroom and she fell against the cabinet,” she said.

“When she was lying on the floor he stamped hard on her foot.”

The prosecutor said Brand also jumped on his victim and rained blows on her head and body.

She said the woman was left with marks on her neck and had a swollen ankle, where Brand’s attack had aggravated a previous injury.

Brand was found later by police and they recovered a quantity of heroin from him. He told the officers he had taken numerous drugs and was taken to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee.

Ms Rasheed said: “He apologised for his previous behaviour and said he required to use the toilet. As he took down his boxer shorts a package fell into the toilet.

“He struggled with the officers as he tried to flush it down the toilet and kicked both officers to the legs. He made threats to assault both of them.”

She told the court a total of £1,700 worth of heroin was recovered.

Brand, 27, admitted attacking and injuring his victim at his then home address in Montrose on November 27 last year, as well as being concerned in the supply of heroin.

He also admitted acting in a threatening or abusive manner and kicking two police officers. He was subject to bail at the time.

Sheriff Lorna Drummond also placed a five year non-harassment order on Brand, banning him from contacting or approaching his former partner.

Drug dealer John Brand has been jailed for 30 months after assaulting his partner and attacking police.