Inverness man who kicked ex-partner's ‘head and body like a football’ is jailed
A 25-year-old man who endangered his ex-partner's life by "kicking her head and body like a football" has been jailed for 40 months at Inverness Sheriff Court.
William MacFarlane, of Mackay Road, Inverness was appearing for sentence before Sheriff David Harvie after being found guilty by a jury's majority after a three-day trial of a campaign of domestic abuse against the 20-year-old woman and assaulting her to her severe injury and danger of life.
Sheriff Harvie told him that they were "very serious offences”.
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“The evidence given by the complainer was distressed and distressing,” he said. “Your actions placed her life in danger and has had a profound effect on her and no doubt lasts to this day.
"You kicked her on the head and body like a football over 20 times."
Sheriff Harvie criticised the comments MacFarlane was making to her while he was attacking her, asking her: "Why are you making me do this?"
The sheriff added: "You made various threats towards her - one that she may not make it to court. You are a danger to her."
In addition to the jail sentence, which was backdated to February 21 when he was remanded in custody, he imposed a 10-year non-harassment order to protect his victim.
During his trial, MacFarlane claimed that he could not have carried out the life-threatening violence on February 11 this year because he was in bed with his new girlfriend at the time.
MacFarlane had denied going to the home of his ex-partner in the city’s Parkfield View and said in evidence he had no idea why she would say he did.
The assault charge included that he repeatedly punched and kicked the woman on the head and body including when she was lying on the floor, and bit her hand.
Police officers had been called to the address after reports of a woman screaming. Officers found her injured, hysterically crying and scared and identified MacFarlane as her attacker.
MacFarlane claimed to the jury that he couldn't have carried out the offence because he was making love all night.
When fiscal depute Naomi Duffy-Welsh challenged MacFarlane’s claim, he told her: “I had taken a Viagra so it was actually ongoing all night. My flatmate was embarrassed when he popped his head in.”
MacFarlane’s flatmate also gave evidence that MacFarlane was home all night.
Defending, Marc Dickson said his client, who had no prior convictions, accepted the jury's guilty verdict, which took three hours to deliver.
