A “jealous” man who attacked his partner on a rail station platform after discovering she was planning a night out with colleagues has been spared jail.
Barrie McDonald, 42, called the woman a “filthy s***” and a “f***ing liar” after she informed him coworkers of both sexes would be at the event.
He later grabbed her by the neck and knocked her to the ground, punching her as she pleaded with him to stop.
Appearing for sentencing after he admitted charges of engaging in a course of behaviour that was abusive and assaulting a police officer, McDonald was told he must instead complete 135 hours of unpaid work and take part in a programme for domestic abusers.
A previous hearing heard how the woman was left with multiple injuries after the attack at Elgin Station, including a cut that needed stitching and wounds that will leave scars.
Fiscal depute Martina Eastwood told Inverness Sheriff Court that McDonald and the woman had been in a relationship since 2014.
On August 14 2021 the couple went out with friends in Lossiemouth and the woman was discussing a planned social event with workmates.
Jealous man ‘took umbrage’
She said: “Barrie McDonald took umbrage at the fact that this works night out was going to involve male as well as female colleagues of his partner and his up-to-then easygoing demeanour changed.”
McDonald then “became angry” calling the woman a “f***ing liar” a “s***” and “s*** of Moray”.
“One of the other guests intervened by physically stepping between them and told him he needed to leave,” Ms Eastwood added.
The couple left together, getting a lift to Elgin train station. But as soon as the driver left, McDonald turned on the woman again calling her a “f***ing filthy s***” and a “f***ing liar”.
“She moved away from him and he followed her,” Ms Eastwood said.
“He seized her by the neck causing her to fall onto the ground and strike her face on the ground.”
The attack was seen by members of the public, one of whom heard the woman scream.
The witness saw the woman on the ground with McDonald standing with his arm around her neck, pulling her back.
Woman pleaded with partner to stop
The fiscal depute said: “While she was on the ground the accused punched her on the body. She pleaded with him to stop as people were watching.”
Following the attack, McDonald boarded the Inverness train but was traced and arrested by police responding to a 999 call from a witness. Once inside the police vehicle, he became aggressive at attempted to kick an officer.
The woman was taken to Dr Grays Hospital with cuts and bruises. One to her lip required stitching while others will leave scars.
The previous hearing also heard how McDonald had targeted his former partner in July 2019 when she returned following lunch and drinks with a friend.
He pushed the woman and informed her he would “ruin her”. He also said he would “put her head through a window”.
The next day he called her a disgrace and told her to pack her bags and later threw a pile of wet washing on her as she lay on a sofa before threatening to “f*** her up”.
On both occasions, police were called.
“On several occasions during the libel period the accused believed his partner to be unfaithful and he would text and phone her to find out where she was and with who,” Ms Eastwood told Sheriff Eilidh MacDonald.
“He repeatedly checked her mobile phone without her permission and he would check on her location by using common mobile phone applications.”
‘Jealousy and insecurity were factors’
At the sentencing hearing, solicitor Roger Webb told Sheriff MacDonald: “Mr McDonald has identified that his jealousy and insecurity were factors that led him to behave as he did and that alcohol had played a part.
“He fully accepts that being intoxicated does not in any way mitigate his behaviour.”
He told the court there were “indications” that the victim’s injuries were “not significant” and submitted a photograph that had been taken from her social media profile.
But Sheriff MacDonald told the accused: “This was a nasty course of conduct towards your ex-partner culminating in a violent assault in a public place, which caused injury and scarring – you can’t minimise that.”
She said his attitude was “less than satisfactory” and highlighted his attempts to place blame on his victim during the preparation of pre-sentencing reports.
“It is your appalling and violent behaviour that has put you in this position,” she told him.
The sheriff placed McDonald, of Camperdown Road, Nairn, on a community payback order with two years’ supervision and 135 hours of unpaid work as well as a requirement that he complete the Caledonian Men’s Programme.
