A man was placed under a 10-year non-harassment order yesterday as he was jailed for a terrifying assault on a woman.
Bryan Buchan attacked the woman in Kintore last year by repeatedly punching her on the head, climbing on top of her and grabbing her by the neck.
When the victim fled from the flat, he pulled and pushed her to the ground before taking her back into the property.
The 32-year-old then repeatedly kicked her on the head and body and cut her on the head with a piece of glass or a similar implement.
During the violent outburst on December 5 last year, Buchan also shouted abuse and threatened to harm himself.
He had originally been charged with attempting to murder his 29-year-old victim, but was convicted of a lesser charge of assault to injury.
He was also convicted of taking and driving away a car from Northern Road, in Kintore, without the owner’s consent on the same day, drink driving, driving without insurance and failing to give information to provide his details to the police.
At the High Court in Edinburgh yesterday, Buchan was jailed for two-and-a-a-half years and disqualified from driving for 16 months.
He was also put on a 10-year non-harassment order which bans him from approaching, contacting or trying to find out where his victim lives. He was warned if he breached it, he could face a further jail term.
Judge Lord Clark told Buchan he had subjected the woman to a “frightening ordeal”.
He added: “Your continuing offending is a matter of grave concern.
“In view of the seriousness of the offences and your history of offending, including violent offending, there is no alternative to a custodial disposal.”
Solicitor advocate Chris Fyffe challenged the length of the order, but said his client accepted a jail term was inevitable.
He said Buchan, listed in court papers as a prisoner, he had been drinking “far too much” when the offence happened, and had suffered a difficult childhood. He added his client was seeking help for his substance misuse.