Woman throttled during terrifying Inverness woodland attack
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Inverness Sheriff Court heard the woman also had mud stuffed in her mouth by her partner.
The terrifying incident happened at the rear of the Raigmore housing estate on August 1, 2019 when 32-year-old Dean Murdoch, then of Brudeshill, Inverness, attacked the woman.
He had been due to stand trial at Inverness Sheriff Court earlier this year but pleaded guilty to one assault to injury charge on the day he was due to face a jury on a total of six charges.
He admitted forcing the woman to the ground, forcing mud into her mouth, repeatedly punching and kicking her on the face and body, seizing her by the hair, clothing and throat – thereby restricting her breathing – while threatening to kill her.
Sentence had been deferred for a background report.
Having read it, Sheriff Eilidh Macdonald criticised him for his attitude towards the social worker who had written it.
Defence counsel, advocate Andrew Crosbie, admitted the author of the report "did not take a shine to him."
Hea added: "Clearly there is no love lost with his ex-partner.
"He describes it as a toxic relationship.
"But it is now finished and he has moved as far away as possible."
Mr Crosbie asked the court to consider having a psychiatric assessment done on his client or to impose a non-custodial sentence.
But this was refused by Sheriff Macdonald.
Jailing Murdoch, who had moved to Dumfries and Galloway since the offence, for 16 months, she told him: "This was a violent attack which was very frightening where and when it took place.
"You have a record of violent offending over a period of years and you have shown no remorse or concern for your victim. Only a custodial sentence is appropriate."
She also imposed a five year non-harassment order to protect the woman on his release.
