An Arbroath domestic abuser has been jailed for the latest attack in a “tempestuous” on-off relationship with his partner.
Ian Milne grabbed his victim and threw her to the ground before putting his hand on her throat in a rage last September, with the woman ending up in the street wearing only her pyjamas.
At Forfar Sheriff Court, 32-year-old Milne admitted assaulting the woman at St Vigeans Road, Arbroath on September 17, and breaching bail by being with her.
Depute fiscal Jill Drummond said the couple had been in a relationship for around three years until 2015, before reconciling earlier this year.
“He was subject to bail conditions banning him from contacting her but she told police that she had been spending several nights a week with him,” said the fiscal.
On September 16 the woman had been with Milne at his flat but he had gone out drinking and was aggressive when he returned the next day, telling her to get out of the house.
Ms Drummond added: “She got out of bed and he began pulling her, pushed her towards the hall and she fell back.
“As she got up he struck her with force on her face, causing her lip to burst.”
Milne continued to shout and swear and although only in her pyjamas the woman left the house, but the accused followed her, grabbed her by the hair and threw her to the ground.
“He then placed his hand at the base of her throat, causing her head to bang on the ground,” added the fiscal.
The terrified woman called 999, but hung up before speaking to anyone.
Police arrived shortly after and Milne was soon traced.
Defence solicitor Ian Flynn described the couple’s relationship as “tempestuous” and said the woman had visited Milne on remand and told him she hoped to rekindle the romance.
“Despite numerous offences, he has never had the opportunity to complete the Fergus programme for domestic offenders and is willing to do that to try to address the problems he has with his partner and his temper.”
Jailing Milne for seven months, Sheriff Gregor Murray told Milne: “These offences are your ninth domestically aggravated assault and your third breach of bail.
“You blatantly failed to comply with the bail order and then completed what is best described as a nasty assault,” the sheriff added.
“You must also just have been out of custody when these offences occurred. Realistically you are lucky these matters are not on indictment.”
