Nairn man assaulted ex-girlfriend in Dingwall then ran away from police

A woman who had a panic attack after arguing with her ex-partner was grabbed by the neck and pinned to the ground by her former boyfriend.

But two-and-a-half hours later following the early morning assault in Tulloch Street, Dingwall on August 23, 2024, 26-year-old Jordan McPhee turned up uninvited at a house in the town's Academy Crescent, where she was.

He tried to gain entry by the rear windows of the property and then went round to the front where he tried to goad a man inside to come out and fight, causing the pair to call the police.

Police had previously taken the highly distressed woman to the address where she was able to tell officers what had happened to her earlier, fiscal depute Pauline Gair told Inverness Sheriff Court.

A witness had heard the Tulloch Street commotion and alerted the police, Mrs Gair said.

When officers attended the second incident, McPhee of Moss-side Brae, Nairn, was seen in the front garden but then ran away, Sheriff David Harvie heard.

Mrs Gair added that McPhee was apprehended a short time later and arrested.

But the court was told of another violent encounter between the two former partners again in Academy Crescent, Dingwall on November 9, last year.

Mrs Gair said: "She saw a man walk from her garden onto Kinnairdie Brae, followed him and recognised him as the accused."

The court heard that the pair argued again before the woman was grabbed by her shoulders and pushed on to the road. Police were again contacted and McPhee was arrested two days later at his address in Skye.

McPhee, who was represented by solicitor advocate Mike Chapman, admitted two charges of assault and two of threatening behaviour.

Sheriff Harvie deferred sentence until October 15 for a background report, plus assessments for a domestic abuser programme and a restriction of liberty order.

McPhee had his bail continued.