A Fife man who stabbed his heavily pregnant partner, causing her to lose their unborn twins, has been told he may never be released from prison.
Stephen Ramsay, 23, previously admitted attempting to murder Lisa Donaldson on February 23 2019 at their home in Glenrothes.
He punched and choked her before before stabbing her in the throat, causing substantial blood loss.
Although Ms Donaldson survived thanks to the reactions of police and paramedics, the 32-week-old twins, delivered by emergency cesarean section, passed away because they were deprived of blood.
At Aberdeen High Court on Friday, Ramsay was handed a lifelong restriction order by Lord Kinclaven with a punishment period of five years.
The sentence means Ramsay, who now denies being responsible for the attack, will serve a minimum of five years in jail before being considered for release on licence.
However, it also means he could be kept imprisoned for the rest of his life if he is judged to remain a danger to the public.
Detective Inspector Paul Dick, who led the investigation, said: “When Stephen Ramsay committed this horrendous attack he was well aware that the woman was heavily pregnant and that his actions could have killed her as well as her unborn children.
“The victim has been left with permanent injuries and she has been left utterly distraught at the death of her twins. No amount of time in prison can ever undo the harm Ramsay has caused to her.
“Ramsay has been given an Order for Lifelong Restriction due to the risk he poses to the community and this means that, only after he has served his full prison sentence, will he be considered for release and only when authorities are entirely satisfied that he is safe to do so. If he is ever released he will thereafter remain under constant supervision for the rest of his life.
“I would also like to thank the police officers and staff from the Scottish Ambulance Service who were first on the scene assisting the woman and were faced with a terrible and upsetting scene. Without their quick actions the outcome could have been far more tragic.
“We are committed to bringing perpetrators of violence to justice and providing all the necessary support and assistance to victims of such offences.”
