Angus thug who broke partner’s jaw facing jail after dodging unpaid work

A Montrose thug whose former girlfriend needed plates fitted in her jaw after he attacked her is facing imprisonment after failing to complete an unpaid work order.

Jay Taylor left his girlfriend with a broken jaw after punching her in the face but managed to avoid being jailed when he appeared in court to be sentenced last year.

As a direct alternative to custody, Taylor was ordered to pay her £2,000 in compensation and complete supervision and 240 hours of unpaid work.

Then just 21 years old, he was told by the sentencing sheriff his age and employment helped spare him from imprisonment.

Failed to complete work

At the Dundee Sheriff Court hearing in June 2021, Sheriff Richard MacFarlane told Taylor: “The consequences for your former girlfriend after you punched her on the head are horrendous.

“She will never have the same use of her jaw again.

“The options are stark but you have relative youth on your side, you are in employment and the latter point allows me to consider not sending you to prison.”

Taylor returned to the dock on Thursday to admit breaching his community payback order by failing to complete the unpaid work.

At Forfar Sheriff Court, Sheriff Krista Johnston revoked the order.

The woman who was attacked is still protected by the four-year-long non-harassment order imposed in Dundee.

After a fresh social work report has been prepared, Taylor will return on January 26 to be re-sentenced for the grisly assault.

Sheriff Johnston told Taylor: “You were given the opportunity by another sheriff not to go to jail.

“You’ve just not done it.

“You will come back to be sentenced anew for this matter.”

Lasting effects

A pair of metal plates and eight screws had to be fitted into Taylor victim’s jaw after he struck her in June 2019.

She spent two nights in hospital.

Taylor also bombarded his victim with 176 phone calls and threatened suicide during a string of messages, Dundee Sheriff Court previously was told.

The woman reported suffering from difficulties eating and numbness on her bottom lip.

Taylor, of Angus Drive, Montrose, admitted causing the woman to suffer severe injury and permanent impairment after punching her on the head on June 19 2019 on Glenmoy Terrace, Forfar.

Between April 1 to July 31 2019 at the same address, Taylor engaged in an abusive course of conduct by sending the woman controlling and coercive communications.

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