A raging boyfriend punctured his partner’s neck with a screwdriver during a terrifying assault at a Dundee multi.
Neighbours saw Alan Rachwal pinning his victim against a glass door, and heard him shout: “I’ll stab you in the heart”.
The woman managed to escape into a lift as her then-partner tried to pull her back.
Perth Sheriff Court heard how the woman was left physically scarred with heightened anxiety.
Rachwal, 32, pled guilty to a domestically-aggravated charge of assaulting his partner to her injury and permanent disfigurement at Dundee’s Hilltown Court on March 8, last year.
He was told he will be jailed.
For the benefit of Dundee
Rachwal, who has a history of crimes involving weapons, was also ordered to stay away from the woman for five years as part of a non-harassment order.
Sheriff Alastair Carmichael told him: “I will continue this for a background report.
“This is going to be a custodial sentence.
“But I am considering supervision at the end of your sentence which might benefit you, and might benefit Dundee as well.”
He charged at his victim
Fiscal depute Joanne Ritchie said the couple had been in a relationship for about four months.
“At about 11am, the complainer was within her home address along with accused,” she told the court. “All was in order.
“She left the property to buy cigarettes.
“When she returned, she could hear sounds of disturbance from within the flat.”
Ms Ritchie said: “On opening the front door, she observed the accused charging towards her in an aggressive manner.
“She retreated out into the communal landing. She saw that the accused had a screwdriver in his hand.”
Rachwal followed her out of the flat and shouted: “Where the f*** have you been? I’m going to f***ing kill you.”
The fiscal depute said: “The accused then pinned the complainer against the glass door and pressed the screwdriver firmly on her neck, before applying force.
“This caused the screwdriver to puncture the skin. The wound began to bleed.”
The woman was heard shouting: “I’ve been stabbed.”
Rachwal responded that he would “stab her in the heart,” Ms Ritchie said.
The assault was witnessed by a neighbour.
“The complainer managed to escape the accused’s hold and made her way to the elevator,” the prosecutor told the court.
“The accused seized her by the body with his hands in an attempt to prevent her entering the elevator.”
However, she managed to get inside and went to floor four where she ran into a friend’s flat and called police.
Police response
“At about 12pm, a number of police units attended at the area following reports of a female being assaulted by a male,” said Ms Ritchie.
“The complainer was traced by constable. She was found with blood on her neck and hands.”
The woman was taken to A&E at Ninewells. “She had sustained a puncture wound to her neck of about 7mm,” said Ms Ritchie. “It was closed with stitches, but has left a white scar on the side of her neck.
“The complainer said that, as a result of this incident, she suffers from heightened anxiety.”
Ms Ritchie said the woman had asked for a non-harassment order for “as long as possible”.
A solicitor for Rachwal said his client had been remanded for a year.
“They both use drugs,” he said. “Mr Rachwal developed this relationship with the woman when they were both at a very low ebb.
“He knows that, with a record like his, a custodial sentence is inevitable.”
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