Contact ban imposed by Inverness Sheriff Court for Black Isle man who attacked partner in their Tore home
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A 38-year-old man who had already been on remand for the equivalent of a 38 month jail sentence was sentenced by a sheriff in a manner that meant he would be immediately released.
William Black was taken into custody on September 15, 2020 on a number of charges including assaulting his partner to her severe injury in their home in Tore on September 14.
But Sheriff Sara Matheson's decision to impose a 22 month prison sentence backdated to the date he was placed on remand, meant he would be liberated right away from Inverness prison.
He was banned from contacting his former partner for two years after the imposition of a non-harassment order to protect her.
Black admitted the single offence at Inverness Sheriff Court on Monday, when he appeared by video link.
Fiscal depute Robert Weir told the court that the pair had been having a few drinks with friends into the early morning of September 14, 2020.
"He woke her and began to punch her on the head with both fists," he said. "He pulled her hair, seized hold of her and threw her about the room. She was taken to Raigmore Hospital the following day suffering from dizziness and pain in her face."
Mr Weir added that, after two further hospital visits, she was found to have a fractured jaw and required a pulverised diet as well as being prescribed pain relief.
"In addition, she had bruising to both eyes, a swollen cheek and nose," he went on.
Defence solicitor Clare Russell provided the sheriff with a psychiatric report on her client who, she said, had "struggled with alcohol and drug addictions."
She added that he suffered from post traumatic stress after a severe assault on him where he was attacked with a knife and baseball bat.
"As a result he has heightened reactions," she said.
"But he has sought assistance while on remand and has worked hard on his mental and physical health."
Sheriff Matheson told Black: "This is a nasty assault in a domestic setting and such behaviour is frowned upon for obvious reasons."
