A Ross-shire tree surgeon who repeatedly assaulted his partner will be sentenced next month.
Aaron Urquhart, formerly of Donald Cameron Court in Maryburgh, appeared from custody at Inverness Sheriff Court yesterday.
The 40-year-old admitted that between July 2014 and July 2016 on numerous occasions, he assaulted his partner Hannah Gradin by punching, slapping, kicking her on the head and body, head-butting her and striking her with a boot causing her to vomit, all to her injury.
He also pleaded guilty to a charge that between August 1, 2015 and Aug 2, 2016, he was in illegal possession of a stun gun.
Urquhart admitted a further charge that he breached his bail condition by contacting his partner by phone the day after he was granted bail at Inverness Sheriff Court on August 1.
The court was told that the couple met in Sweden in 2007 while Urquhart was working there. They returned to Ross-shire in 2013 and almost a year later, the domestic violence became apparent.
Fiscal depute Michelle Molley said that the couple had returned from a wedding when he repeatedly punched, slapped and kicked her on the head and body.
“Her injuries were so concerning that he took her to hospital. It was not reported to police.
“But as her injuries began to heal, he regularly assaulted her again by again repeatedly punching and kicking her on the head and body, and headbutting her. These assaults were not reported to the police.
“But in June 2016 when she was asleep, he climbed on top of her and repeatedly struck her on the head with a boot and she vomited. She thought she would die during the assault which lasted half an hour.
“She said it was the worst beating she had received.”
Sheriff Margaret Neilson was told that it was Ms Gradin’s mother who reported the abuse to police after officers were called to the house after a report of a disturbance.
Sentence was deferred until December 2 for a background report and defence lawyer Clare Russell reserved her comments until then.
