A repeat offender has been jailed after he drunkenly assaulted his girlfriend following a memorial event for his late sister.
John Easson, 32, slapped the woman so hard across the face that her tooth came loose after he first accused her of cheating on him, Aberdeen Sheriff Court was told.
Fiscal depute Carol Gammie said the couple had been in an on-off relationship for seven years when the incident happened, on October 18 2022.
“The complainer was alone within the locus when the accused attended and afforded himself entry,” she said.
“He began arguing regarding alleged infidelity in their relationship.
“Without warning he struck her to her face with an open hand, causing her front tooth to become loose.”
When his mother then appeared at his Ashhill Drive home, Easson’s victim told her about the assault and the police were called.
When police caught up with him, Easson told them he had consumed alcohol earlier in the day.
Previously served time behind bars
Easson was jailed in March last year for running towards a gun-wielding cop while brandishing a screwdriver and then being brought to the ground by a police dog.
He was jailed for around nine months for that offence but upon his early release committed this latest attack on his girlfriend.
Appearing from custody at HMP Grampian he admitted a charge of domestic assault.
His defence agent David Sutherland said his client has a number of previous domestically-aggravated offences on his “appalling record” but has been using his time on remand to adopt a “healthier lifestyle” free of alcohol and drugs.
“This matter arose from alleged infidelity on the part of the complainer,” he said.
“That day, the family were remembering the accused’s late sister. Alcohol had been consumed and he had also taken some tablets.
“He ends up back at home with the complainer, they argue, she blocks him in her home and in the course of him trying to get out he strikes her in the way to which he has pled guilty.
Blamed chaotic upbringing
“He was brought up in an alcoholic environment so it’s perhaps no surprise he ends up in that lifestyle himself. He has tried to break free but regrettably has been unable to do so.
“He doesn’t intend to go back to the complainer – that relationship was not a positive influence on his lifestyle.
“The couple had problematic misuse of drugs and alcohol. He does not intend to drink alcohol again upon his release.”
Sheriff Ian Wallace jailed Easson, a prisoner of HMP Grampian, for 120 days to take into account an unexpired portion of a previous sentence.
After his release, he’ll be under supervision for 28 months and must carry out the Caledonian Mens Programme for domestic abusers.
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