A woman was left with a broken jaw and dislodged teeth after a brutal attack by her partner.
Kirsty Hutchison was asleep in bed when she was wakened by punches raining down on her head.
Inverness Sheriff Court was told yesterday that she tried to flee for the safety of the bathroom – but her 42-year-old then-boyfriend Jason Robertson caught her.
And while she was on the floor of her home in Nairn, he kicked her in the face, fracturing her jaw.
The court heard that when the terrified woman looked in the mirror after the unprovoked attack by drunken Robertson, she saw her broken jaw wobble.
Ms Hutchison required surgery and dental treatment to repair her damaged teeth.
But despite the viciousness of the assault, Robertson’s agent, solicitor Rory Gowans, said Ms Hutchison did not want him to be “overly punished” for what he did.
After reading a letter from the assault victim Sheriff David Sutherland jailed Robertson, of 1 Laing Gardens, Nairn, for two-and-a-half years.
The sheriff told him “This was a totally unprovoked attack on a defenceless woman and her injuries were severe.
“They also could have been a lot more severe and you are fortunate that you are not facing a more serious charge.”
Fiscal depute Kelly Mitchell told the court the attack took place on February 1 last year when Ms Hutchison was joined by a friend and Robertson for drinks.
She added: “She went to her bed but woke up to find Robertson punching her in the face. She screamed at him to get off her and tried to run into her bathroom.
“But he caught up with her and kicked her on the head as she lay on the floor. When she looked in the mirror, she could see that her jaw was wobbling and her teeth were loose.
“Robertson then asked her if she was alright and if she wanted an ambulance.
“She didn’t go to hospital until later that day because she was in extreme pain. She refused to give police a statement or identify who assaulted her, and it was a friend who reported Robertson.”
Mr Gowans said: “My client is at a loss to explain what happened here. He had been in a relationship with her for some time, but it is now over.
“He has had a heroin problem as well as one with alcohol and he can’t explain it. He had been drinking alcohol and mixing it with his prescribed medication.
“There had been a degree of minor bickering during the evening but it was all over by the time of the attack. He is horrified at what happened and accepts it must have been a traumatic and terrifying ordeal for his former partner.
“He is thoroughly ashamed of his actions and his contrition is genuine.”
