An award-winning sheep farmer who assaulted his partner in an “absolutely out-of-character” fallout at an agricultural show has been admonished.
Graham Morrison grabbed his partner around her neck during the incident, which stemmed from drinking too much, not long after the conclusion of last year’s Keith Show.
The 59-year-old farmer immediately admitted the drink-fuelled assault to police officers, Elgin Sheriff Court was told.
Fiscal depute Naomi Duffy-Welsh said the assault happened in the early hours of August 7 last year.
‘He didn’t want to go and became aggressive’
“Mr Morrison and the complainer had been at Keith Show,” she said. “They had been consuming alcohol.
“At around 1.45 am on Sunday, the complainer suggested that they accompany an acquaintance to an address on Cameron Drive, Keith.
“But when they got there the accused told her he didn’t want to go and became aggressive.
“They began to argue and he grabbed her by the throat. This did not restrict her breathing.”
The woman, his partner of 10 months, managed to push Morrison off but after he followed her she flagged down passing police officers.
“Police spoke to him and cautioned and charged him on suspicion of assault,” the fiscal added.
“He admitted placing his hands on her neck. She had reddening on her neck.”
Morrison first appeared in the dock last October and admitted a charge of domestic assault in which he seized the woman by her throat.
At the time, defence agent Robert Cruickshank said the farmer was a first offender with grown-up children.
‘Given where he had been he had gotten drunk’
“This was absolutely out of character,” he said. “Mr Morrison is not a drinker and it was unusual for him to get drunk.
“Given where he had been he had gotten drunk and he has behaved in a manner which on any other occasion he wouldn’t.”
Morrison, of Inchbruich Farm, Cornhill, was ordered to be of good behaviour for six months and returned to the dock last week for sentencing.
His solicitor again stressed it had been a one-off incident and said the relationship is ongoing and the first offender has been in no trouble since.
Sheriff Olga Pasportnikov handed the farmer an admonishment.
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