Letter from forgiving victim helps persuade sheriff not to jail abusive ex-partner

A former Inverness businessman who sent his ex-partner "appalling" What’s App messages was told by a sheriff that he should be jailed.

But a plea by defence solicitor Rory Gowans and a letter from 38-year-old Colin Horne’s victim persuaded Sheriff Gary Aitken “just”, he said, not to impose a custodial sentence.

Mr Gowans told Inverness Sheriff Court it has been a wake-up call for his client.

Horne, of Walker Crescent, admitted threatening behaviour towards the woman which occurred on October 29, 2020.

The messages were not read out in the court, but Sheriff Aitken read them and commented: "You have been through the courts before for violence and drug dealing and you should know what happens when you get paralytic drunk and vent your spleen to your partner.

"What you sent was in appalling terms and my immediate reaction was that a substantial custodial sentence be imposed.

"It is what you strongly deserve. But after hearing from Mr Gowans and having read the email from your former partner, she is more forgiving than me, so I am persuaded not to – just.”

Sheriff Aitken imposed 150 hours of unpaid work and one year’s supervision as an alternative.

However, the sheriff warned Horne: "If you breach the order, it will be 12 months inside and any further domestic offending, you will certainly go to jail."

Mr Gowans agreed with the sheriff that the nature and tenor of the messages were extremely nasty and would have caused considerable concern.

"He had over-consumed alcohol and drugs and was self-medicating for mental health issues," Mr Gowans said.

"It was the combination of these that caused this.

"But this has been a wake-up call for him."