Inverness man who assaulted wife pled guilty because he didn’t want his partner to go through trial ordeal

A 37-year-old Inverness man with “an appalling record for violence” was sentenced to 240 hours of unpaid work instead of being imprisoned at Inverness Sheriff Court yesterday.

Stuart McConnachie, of Bruce Gardens, had earlier admitted assaulting his wife Julie by slapping her on the face on January 3 this year. He was also ordered to take a domestic abuse course and remain under supervision for two years.

Sentence had been deferred until yesterday for a background report.

Commenting on the social worker’s assessment, Sheriff Margaret Neilson told McConnachie he had “an appalling record for violence including a conviction for assault at Sheriff and jury level.

“I am imposing a community payback order with some hesitation but if you breach it you will get a jail sentence.”

But defence lawyer Gary Miller said: “There is room for education here and he is motivated to change. He pleaded guilty because he did not want his wife to go through the ordeal of a trial.

“He accepts full responsibility for what he did.”