A former offshore worker who battered his bride-to-be on the eve of their wedding has been jailed for three years.
Richard Dawson was locked up yesterday after he previously admitted a catalogue of attacks against three women dating back almost 30 years.
Dawson repeatedly assaulted Susan Nicol during their nine-year relationship, including when she was pregnant.
On the night before the couple’s wedding in May 1993, he rained blows down on her head and body while she pleaded with him “don’t hit my face”.
Her mother, who was on the phone at the time and heard the attack, begged her to call off the marriage, but the ceremony went ahead the next day.
Ms Nicol was just 17 when she got involved with Dawson in 1988, but it was not until she moved in with him that she fell victim to his violent outbursts, brought on by drink.
The court heard the 48-year-old, of 15 Clashmach Terrace, Huntly, became more and more “possessive” and his violence quickly graduated from slaps to punches and kicks.
When she fell pregnant in 1990, Dawson accused her of being unfaithful and repeatedly hit her on the head and body, including her stomach.
Fiscal depute Elaine Ward said Ms Nicol left and went back to her mother, but was convinced to go back to Dawson after he promised “it wouldn’t happen again”.
However, in June 1991, he grabbed her by throat after she removed her ring and told him the engagement was off, and had to be pulled off her by his mother.
Mrs Ward told the court the violent incidents continued until Ms Nicol left Dawson in 1997.
However, she said Ms Nicol was still affected by the abuse and had difficulty being around men who were drinking and would “instinctively cower” if one raised his voice around her.
Dawson also lashed out at Kathleen Petrie during their relationship between September 1, 2003, and June 30, 2005, at an address on Huntly’s Depot Road.
In one incident, he hit her on the head with an ashtray and knocked her out. She woke up shortly afterwards on the ground with blood pouring onto the carpet.
He also punched his daughter, Louise Dawson, on the side of the head after an all-day drinking session to celebrate his birthday on April 1, 2013. She was 20 at the time.
Defence agent Mike Munro said Dawson was a man who “had worked hard and drank hard” throughout his adult life.
He said that was not an excuse for his behaviour, but added: “There are two sides to every story and there are two sides to Mr Dawson”.
Sheriff Graham Buchan sentenced Dawson to three years and two months, and said: “Your behaviour towards your two previous partners and your daughter is clearly appalling.
“I am in no doubt that the only appropriate way of dealing with this is substantial period of imprisonment.”