An Easter Ross man has admitted attacking his former partner with a wooden shafted garden tool in a jealous rage.
Kyle Hunter hit Eilidh Robertson on the head and body with the tool, and repeatedly punched and kicked her.
The 29-year-old had originally been charged with assaulting her with a sledge hammer to her severe injury and endangerment of her life, but pleaded guilty to the reduced charge when his case called at Inverness Sheriff Court on Hogmanay.
The assault happened on September 23 last year at an address in Firhill.
Hunter, who is originally from Alness but now listed in court papers as a prisoner at Inverness, was on bail at the time of the offence – and had already been banned from contacting or approaching Ms Robertson after a previous alleged incident.
Fiscal depute Allison Wylie told the court: “He had been in an on-off relationship with Ms Robertson for three years.
“He was subject to a special bail condition not to approach her but he was seen in her garden with a shafted tool.
“He was angry and accused her of being with another man.
“She replied that she was single, they weren’t together any more and she could do what she liked.
“He then punched her and kicked her on the face, causing her mouth to bleed. He then repeatedly punched and kicked her on the face and body and she curled up to try and protect herself.
“He struck her once on the head with the implement before hitting her another three or four times on the body with it.
“He was seen leaving the house with the implement over his shoulder.”
The court heard Ms Robertson suffered a broken rib, grazes, extensive bruising and a cut mouth in the attack.
Hunter was traced by police on the Cromarty Bridge and arrested, the fiscal said, but his weapon was not found.
Sheriff David Sutherland deferred sentence for background reports until January 26.