A thug soldier who throttled his wife walked free from court yesterday after a judge decided to admonish him.
Burly Cameron Hayhurst brutally attacked Caroline McGhee at their Inverness home, leaving the mother fearing for her life.
Ms McGhee only escaped Hayhurst’s clutches by pretending to be dead before fleeing their army house to the safety of a neighbour’s home.
In March last year, the squaddie, a private with the Royal Regiment of Scotland, admitted assaulting the 29 year-old to the danger of her life.
Lord Turnbull sparked anger when he did not jail Hayhurst – instead deferring sentence for 12 months.
It followed claims that the 26-year-old soldier needed intensive treatment for post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following a tour of duty in Afghanistan.
The judge had also praised Hayhurst, of Burntisland, Fife, for his “bravery” in serving his country.
Hayhurst yesterday returned to the dock at the High Court in Glasgow.
His lawyer Frances Connor said he had “taken very seriously the trust of the court” and had stayed out of trouble.
She added: “He has co-operated with all help and assistance available to him. It is clear… the depths of psychological difficulties he was bearing at the time on his return from Afghanistan.”
Lord Turnbull yesterday recalled last year stating that if Hayhurst did what was asked by the court he would “expect to bring matters to a conclusion”.
The judge added: “For the reasons that I did explain, I remain satisfied that action taken was appropriate and correct. I would propose to simply admonish him today.”
His wife Caroline – who has split from Hayhurst – was not in court to hear what happened.
The court heard that Hayhurst suddenly lunged at his wife during the attack on September 9 2012. He swept her feet away before clamping his hands around her neck.
Prosecutor Shanti Maguire said: “She genuinely believed that he was trying to kill her.”
Ms McGhee suffered heavy bruising and bleeding, but was released after treatment.
Hayhurst was described last March as a “highly respected soldier” who had been suffering from PTSD at the time – but it was diagnosed until after his arrest.
Working in bomb disposal, he was said to have experienced “atrocities and violence” first-hand while in action.
It emerged yesterday that Hayhurst, who now has a new partner, will be medically discharged from the army and is soon to begin an engineering course at college.
