The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Man who stabbed girlfriend ‘heard voices’
A man who stabbed his exgirlfriend after setting fire to her flat told policehewas hearing voices.
Daniel Ingram attacked Victoria Mcdonald with a 5in blade after starting a blaze in her bathroom.
The 22-year-old admitted the offences when he appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court yesterday.
Fiscal depute Alan Townsend told the court that the pair had been in a relationship for three years. That ended in 2009, but they kept in touch, and had agreed to meet at her home in the city’s Craigie Street on September 17 last year.
Mrtownsend said everything seemed normal until Ingram went to use the bathroom.
“She heard the noise of bottles being knocked over coming from the bathroom and a crackling noise like the sound caused by a fire,” he said. “As the accused exited the toilet, she could see some items in the room were on fire.”
Miss Mcdonald was trying to put out the flames when she noticed he had a knife, the court heard. In the ensuing struggle, Ingram attempted to stop her leaving the flat.
Mr Townsend said: “She then crouched down in the corner of the room. The accused leaned over her and stabbed her on the right side of her body before leaving the bathroom and the house.”
Miss Mcdonald was able to extinguish the bottles of toiletries which were on fire before calling for help.
The court heard she had a small cut to her chest, but no permanent scar.
Wheninterviewedbypolice, Ingram, of 31 Catto Crescent, Cove Bay, told them he was hearing voices. He admitted assault to injury and willful fireraising.
He also pleaded guilty to a separate assault on Miss Mcdonald on August 19 at an address in Aberdeen’s Claremont Street. The court heard he grabbed her by the throat after calling her a liar.
Ingram’s agent, solicitor Tony Burgess, said his client had no previous convictions.
He said that in light of what Ingram had told police, a psychiatric report had been requested to assess his mental health.
Sheriff Marysia Lewis deferred sentence for background reports and for an additional psychological report.
Ingram will return to court on June 11.