Man left ex battered and bruised in attack

A Perth man with a history of domestic abuse left his ex-partner battered and bruised after an explosion of violence.

Thirty-seven-year-old James McColl had been told he was “no longer welcome” at her home, Perth Sheriff Court was told.

But he still had a key and turned up two days later.

And after shouting at the woman “I’m going to kill you,” the joiner lost the plot and lunged at her, grabbing her by the throat.

He then punched her to both sides of the head - and bit her cheek.

In a fit of rage, he also began to trash her flat in Letham, smashing two TV sets, several ornaments and leaving “visible holes” in the wall and a hallway door.

McColl, who had been freed early from a previous sentence, was remanded in custody while background reports are prepared.

He will discover his fate on June 1 but Sheriff Gillian Wade warned him: “Clearly a custodial sentence is inevitable.”

The accused, of Newhouse Road, admitted assaulting the woman at her home on June 9, 2019, and wilfully or recklessly causing damage to two TV sets, two mirrors, a bedside table and various ornaments.

There was also damage to a wall and door.

He also pled guilty to a third charge of head-butting PC Neil Hunter in Dunsinane Drive.

Depute fiscal Michael Sweeney said the accused had been in an “on-off relationship” with the woman for around 17 years.

He has 26 previous convictions for a variety of offences, including violence, and incidents of a domestic nature.

The pair became involved in an argument, which wasn’t reported to police and she had made it clear he wasn’t to return to the flat.

But about 12.15pm on Sunday, June 9, the woman was in her living room when she heard the sound of someone opening the front door.

After making the kill threat, the accused then attacked her.

The police were alerted but the accused had made off before they arrived on the scene.

Mr Sweeney added: “Police witnesses observed the female to be in an apparent state of shock, with visible swelling to the right side of her face, red marks on the right side of her cheek and swelling to the top of her head.”

As officers took a statement, she “began vomiting” and was taken to Perth Royal Infirmary where her head injuries were examined.

Police observed “significant signs of a disturbance” within the property, all of which had been carried out by the accused, stated the fiscal.

About 2pm that day, police received information that McColl had been seen in a garden near the property.

The fiscal added: “He attempted to make off by running into a nearby garden of the property and but was apprehended by PCs Lewis Reynolds and Neil Hunter.”

But as he was arrested, he lunged towards PC Hunter, butting him to the forehead, before he was “brought under control and placed in handcuffs.”

Solicitor Pauline Cullerton asked that the sheriff consider obtaining a report to assess his suitability for the Caledonian Men’s Project, which helps those convicted of domestic abuse.

She asked that he be granted his liberty, pointing out he had been on a long-term curfew from 9pm-5.30am and that had never been breached.

Sheriff Waid agreed to call for reports but remanded McColl in custody.

“Clearly, standing the nature of these charges, I am not considering anything other than a custodial sentence.

“There really is no alternative, standing your record.”

She pointed out that the domestic abuse programme could take place while McColl was serving a sentence.