A 47-year-old man who scarred his partner for life in a “grotesque act of violence” avoided jail after she pleaded for mercy for him.
Karen Wood wrote to Sheriff Margaret Neilson telling her she hoped to rebuild the relationship with 47-year-old Duncan Mackenzie.
Ms Wood was in the public benches of Inverness Sheriff Court as Mackenzie waited to hear his fate yesterday.
Mackenzie, of 135 Bruce Gardens, Inverness, admitted assaulting Ms Wood in her home at 84 St Valery Avenue in the city on April 25 last year by punching her on the face and body, striking her head off a shelf unit all to her injury and permanent disfigurement.
Sentencing him to 300 hours of unpaid community work, placing him under supervision for two years and ordering him to participate in mental health and alcohol abuse treatment as well as a domestic abuse programme, the Sheriff said: “This was a truly shocking incident.
“But taking into account the positive social work report, and the supportive references and attitude of the complainer as well as the steps you have taken, I have been narrowly persuaded not to impose a custodial sentence.”
Defence agent Shahid Latif told the court that Mackenzie was getting voluntary psychiatric care and treatment for his alcohol problem.
But he conceded: “This was a grotesque act of violence on his partner in the family home and the thought of imprisonment frightens him.”
Fiscal Roderick Urquhart told the court that the couple lived together at Ms Wood’s house. They had been in a relationship for two and a half years and had been living together for 18 months.
Mr Urquhart added: “Karen Wood had been working throughout the day whilst Mackenzie had been on a night out with friends.
“Both initially lay on the bed and Mackenzie then assaulted Ms Wood, punching her on the face and body.
“Ms Woods noticed blood coming from her face and ran first to the bathroom for a towel to clean it up.
“As she entered the bathroom Mackenzie struck her face into the shelving. Ms Wood was able to break free from him, ran downstairs and got into her car. She immediately phoned the police on 999.”
Ms Wood was taken to hospital where she was treated for a three inch long laceration to her forehead, a one inch cut to her right upper lip and bruising to her face, jaw and shoulders.