An oil executive who attacked his wife because she had a glass of wine before lunchtime has lost his job after a sheriff ordered him to fly back to Scotland.
Quentin Livingston-Taylor, 54, carried out an “act of vindictive cowardice” by continuing to hit his wife as she cowered on the ground.
Livingston-Taylor had been told to fly back from Saudi Arabia to face justice and yesterday told the court he had lost his job as a result.
Sheriff William Wood told him: “Having read your own account of the matter, this was an appalling loss of control.
“You said your wife’s drinking had become an issue for you but nothing justifies your conduct in any shape or form.
“You continued to assault her when she was curled up trying to defend herself on the ground – trying to protect herself.
“It was an act of vindictive cowardice to continue the assault when she was in that helpless position.”
Sheriff Wood placed Livingston-Taylor under supervision for two years and ordered him to carry out 150 hours’ unpaid work in the community. He was also told to attend a domestic violence project.
Perth Sheriff Court heard yesterday that Livingston-Taylor had been left by his wife Anne-Sophie Taylor, 47, in the wake of the brutal attack.
The court heard he lashed out after suspecting she had been drinking while he was out in the morning.
Depute fiscal Matthew Kerr told the court: “The complainer and the accused have been in a relationship for six years and have been married for three years.
“The argument stemmed from the accused accusing the complainer of being drunk and lying to him about it.”
When the police arrived, Livingston-Taylor was standing in his driveway while his visibly upset wife was inside their Perthshire home with a burst lip.
Livingston-Taylor was taken into custody and told officers: “It was a domestic argument only. I did not assault my wife.”
But when the case called in his absence yesterday, he admitted punching, kicking and injuring Anne-Sophie Taylor, 47, on Newmiln Estate, Guildtown, on April 15.
Solicitor Pauline Cullerton, defending, said her client had been attending anger management classes prior to departing for Saudi Arabia to undertake a work project.
She said: “He is a first offender and is very sorry and remorseful for his actions. There was a lot of pressure within the family between himself and his wife.
“He fully accepts he behaved in a completely inappropriate way.
“Having had to return to Scotland he has lost his employment.”
