Abusive Jonathan Macpherson held partner down in bath, Inverness Sheriff Court hears
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A 38-year-old man who subjected his partner to a series of abusive incidents including being submerged in a bath.
Jonathan Macpherson appeared at Inverness Sheriff Court for sentence which had been deferred for social work intervention.
After reading a background report and hearing from defence solicitor Willie Young that his client had stayed out of trouble since the incidents several years ago, Sheriff David Sutherland decided on a community-based disposal.
Macpherson, of Huntly Court, Inverness was placed under a year’s social work supervision and ordered to take part in a relationships programme.
At a hearing in November last year, the court was told that Macpherson was involved in three assaults on his ex-partner and behaved in an aggressive and threatening manner by shouting and swearing at her between 2014 and April 2019.
He admitted all four offences.
The court heard that on an unspecified day in 2014, Macpherson was living with his then partner in Benula Road and she was having a bath.
Fiscal depute Susan Love said: “She shouted for him and he came in angry and pushed her down under the water. She was held there before being released.
“He said to her ‘it is not a big deal because I let you go’.
“In November 2018, he was in her new address and he followed her into the bathroom. He pushed her backwards and she fell into the bath. She didn’t know why he was angry.
“He then punched her on the back of the head, saying it was long overdue.”
The prosecutor then went on to relate an assault in December 2018, when she asked him to leave, adding: “He refused and he kicked her on the thigh.”
The final offence occurred on April 14, 2019 when she called him the wrong name and he began shouting insults and swore at her.
Ms Love said: “He grabbed her, pushed her and she fell against the kitchen door. She managed to get her phone and called 999. Although he grabbed the phone, she was able to continue the call and tell police she was being attacked.”
Macpherson, who also threatened to stab one of her friends, was later arrested and made admissions to officers.
Mr Young said his client was in a new relationship and the previous one had been “turbulent and chaotic against a background of alcohol and drugs”.
He added: “He has been out of trouble since these matters arose and his health has improved to allow him to take up employment.”
