A woman tried to jump from her window and scale a fence whilst covered in blood and screaming for help following a brutal attack by her boyfriend.
Mark Ritchie repeatedly struck the woman to her head and body following a drunken argument after the pair consumed a quarter bottle of vodka and multiple sleeping tablets.
One neighbour saw the 32-year-old shouting at the woman: “I am going to kill you if you don’t come back inside.”
Aberdeen Sheriff Court was told how one concerned neighbour called the police after hearing “crashing” noises from within the victim’s home on Western Road, Aberdeen.
Neighbour heard ‘crashing’ noise
Fiscal depute Lucy Simpson said one neighbour witnessed the aftermath of the violent assault from within the communal garden just after 2.30pm on July 14 last year.
“They heard a distinct crashing noise then minutes later they saw the complainer trying to climb out of a window and over a fence with blood on her face and shouting for help,” the fiscal said.
“The accused was shouting after her: ‘I am going to kill you if you don’t come back inside’.
“The complainer was injured with blood on her face and t-shirt.”
Had her blood on his neck
When police arrived they found the couple, together for more than eight years, still arguing and with more of the victim’s blood visible on Ritchie’s neck.
“Due to the combination of medication and alcohol the complainer could not recall what happened,” Ms Simpson added.
“There were clear signs of a disturbance within the property with blood staining throughout.”
The court was told Ritchie’s victim suffered a three-inch cut on her forearm, a punctured bicep and a cut lip. She refused hospital treatment.
Ritchie, who appeared from custody at HMP Grampian, admitted one charge of domestic assault.
Assault a ‘two-way street’
Defence agent Sam Milligan said there were “clear signs” that intoxication had played a part in the incident.
He said: “He takes responsibility for the injuries but it was very much a two-way street in terms of the physical altercations between the two.”
Sheriff Ian Wallace deferred sentence for background reports, a restriction of liberty order assessment and to find out whether any object was involved in causing the victim’s cuts.
Ritchie was remanded at the Peterhead prison meantime.
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