An Inverness man who terrorised a woman for almost a decade and twice put her life in danger by strangling her is behind bars.
Ricky Smith admitted touching the woman’s private parts to check if she had been having sex and twice injuring her by throttling her.
The 54-year-old was brought from prison to Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court, where he admitted the two assaults and sustained threatening behaviour.
Smith’s reign of terror over the woman continued from October 2010 until October 2019, when she went to the police after a life-threatening assault.
Sustained torment
Fiscal depute Jamie Hilland explained throughout the nine-year period, Smith would shout and swear at the woman and demand to have sex with her.
When she refused, he would become more abusive, calling her a “slag,” “slut” and “whore.”
Some of the loudest abuse was overheard by a neighbour.
If she was away from him for prolonged periods of time, Smith admitted he would administer a “finger test” where he’d touch the woman’s private parts to try and determine if she’d had sex.
She said this happened on multiple occasions and the last time was in August 2019.
First choking
In April of 2018, the woman attended a tarot reading at her neighbour’s property and later arrived at Smith’s home at the time, in Barnton Place, Glenrothes.
This sparked an argument which lasted for weeks and culminated in Smith assaulting her in July by seizing her by the throat and compressing it, restricting her breathing and injuring her.
The next day, she went to her GP reporting a sore throat and difficulty swallowing.
She was directed to A&E where she was treated for tenderness to her left cheek and neck, as well as an altered voice.
The woman was told to go back to the hospital later but did not do so.
Throttled again
A second attack took place in Smith’s Glenrothes home in October 2019.
After an argument, he grabbed the woman by the throat and lifted her by it.
Father-of-three Smith threw her to the floor and threatened to kill her.
Initially, his victim kicked out to try to free herself but gave up fighting in the hope it would entice him to release her.
Her back was left bruised.
Following this attack, the woman went to visit family and after speaking with an aunt who works as a social worker, contacted the police in Glenrothes.
A marker was placed on Smith’s home and she later fled Scotland, giving evidence from outside the country.
Smith admitted both assaults put the woman’s life in danger.
Sentence deferred
Sheriff James Williamson ordered social work reports and further remanded Smith.
The sheriff imposed a five-year non-harassment order with immediate effect.
A sentencing hearing was fixed for October 14.
Defence counsel acting for Smith explained he was psychiatrically assessed last week.
Smith, who was jailed for a previous offence in 1989, was recently transferred from HMP Inverness to HMP Perth after being remanded on August 18 when he missed his trial.
Court papers say he had latterly been living in Gilbert Street, Inverness.
In January 2020, he was reported missing and a police appeal explained he had links to the Highland area. He was traced the following month.
