An Inverness man who choked his partner because he was “hurt” that the relationship was coming to an end has been told to stay away from her for three years.
Inverness Sheriff Court heard that Rudney Boelijn, 40, was “driven by hurt” when he twice seized the woman by the neck during an incident at their home in Castle Heather Drive on June 6 last year.
Boelijn previously admitted assault to injury and danger of life and assault to injury. Sentence had been deferred for a background report.
Defence counsel Bill Adam told Sheriff Eilidh Macdonald: “He is very sorry for the distress caused and accepts his actions were completely unacceptable.
“His reactions were driven by hurt due to the relationship breaking down.
“He is genuinely remorseful, not for himself but for the complainer.”
‘These two charges are serious’
Fiscal depute Pauline Gair had earlier told the court: “During the course of the evening the witness noticed the accused was in a bad mood.
“She tripped over a bed cover and he seized her by the neck.”
The court heard the woman suffered bruising as a result of the assault.
Banned from contact for three years
Sheriff Macdonald ordered Boeljin, of Maxwell Drive, Inverness, to participate in a rehabilitation programme for male domestic abusers and remain under social work supervision for two years.
He was also banned from contacting his victim for three years.
The sheriff told him: “These two charges are serious. On each occasion, you grabbed this lady around the neck area. It was dangerous and it can sometimes result in fatal consequences.
“It is unacceptable that this was your reaction to your emotions.”