A serial domestic abuser who repeatedly bit his girlfriend on the face has been jailed.
Civil engineer Mark Webb appeared in the dock at Aberdeen Sheriff Court and admitted subjecting two of his partners to persistent assaults.
The court heard the 32-year-old attacked one partner in 2017 when she returned home half an hour later than he had told her to.
Described by a sheriff as “a serious risk” to women, Webb shook his head in disbelief as he was sentenced to nearly two years in prison.
Struck partner’s head off set of drawers
Fiscal depute Brian Young told the court that following New Year celebrations at a friend’s house in 2019 Webb began telling his partner that she had been “too drunk and was an embarrassment”.
“The accused grabbed the complainer by the throat, pushed her against a wall and pointed in her face whilst shouting at her,” he said.
On another occasion around Valentine’s Day that year, Webb grabbed the woman by the neck and applied pressure to her throat for around 20 seconds.
The following month, he again grabbed her by the throat and applied pressure for the same duration.
“On that occasion, he bit her on the nose breaking the skin with his teeth that caused some bruising to become visible some days later,” Mr Young said.
After a night out with friends in April 2019, the woman returned in good spirits but Webb started an argument, seizing her throat again and striking her head off a chest of drawers.
“The accused appeared to get a fright when he saw that the complainer’s head was bleeding and he left the flat,” Mr Young said.
“The complainer was left with a cut to her head, a graze to her cheek, bruising around her eye and bruising on her neck and arm.”
Days later another argument turned to violence, with Webb grabbing the woman by the neck once more and biting her on the forehead, leaving teeth marks.
The court heard he also assaulted a previous partner who had arrived home from a night out with friends half an hour later than he’d told her to.
Webb waited until the woman was in bed before pulling her out and throwing her into a sofa where she broke three ribs.
He pleaded guilty to three charges of assault involving two women between 2017 and 2019.
‘He was bigger, stronger and was always the winner’
Defence agent Graham Morrison told the court that his client “recognises that there is something amiss with him”.
He added: “Mr Webb doesn’t hide away from what he has done – he is ashamed and he apologises.
“He wasn’t the only one causing the violence but he was the bigger, he was the stronger and he was always the winner.
“He is not trying to get away from the fact there is a flaw in his character.”
Sheriff Graham Buchanan told Webb that “these are undoubtedly serious offences”.
“Your victims sustained serious injuries and you assaulted them in a very nasty fashion,” he said.
“You are someone who presents a serious risk to any future partner and I am in no doubt that only a sentence of imprisonment is appropriate.”
Sheriff Buchanan sentenced Webb, Cloverleaf Grange, Bucksburn, to 21 months in prison.
He also put a non-harassment order in place, meaning Webb cannot approach his two victims for five years.
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