An award-winning sheep farmer assaulted his partner in an “absolutely out-of-character” fallout which stemmed from drinking too much at an agricultural show, a court has heard.
Graham Morrison grabbed his partner around her neck not long after the conclusion of the 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 this year, at the end of the first day of the popular agricultural event.
‘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 admitted a charge of domestic assault in which he seized the woman by her throat.
His 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.”
The solicitor added that the relationship is ongoing and the pair were putting the matter behind them.
“He has expressed appropriate regret and appropriate embarrassment,” Mr Cruickshank said.
Sheriff Gordon Fleetwood ordered Morrison, of Inchbruich Farm, Cornhill, to be of good behaviour and deferred sentence for six months.
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