A Banff man has been jailed for five months after failing to acknowledge he had abused his wife over a two-year period.
George Reid, 58, had previously admitted attacking his wife and appeared at Banff Sheriff Court for sentencing.
However, defence counsel Stuart Beveridge told the court that Reid had “felt unable” to cooperate with a background report and said his marriage had been “clearly difficult over the years” and he did not fully accept the issues had been “one-sided”.
Reid admitted to – on more than one occasion – seizing his wife by the neck, threatening violence, repeatedly punching her and pushing her causing her to fall down some steps.
The incidents all occurred between April 1 2019 and March 22 2022, at Reid’s home address on Alberta Place, Banff.
Wife was ‘terrified’ of husband
The court heard the couple, who have three children together, were married in 1988 but separated in 1995, establishing two households.
Fiscal despite Alan Townsend told the court that the relationship had continued, but Mrs Reid had felt “terrified” of her husband.
She was unable to visit her family or friends and often said “all hell would break loose” if she did not do as her husband said.
Mr Townsend said on one occasion Reid had become angry because his “tea was not being cooked” resulting in him grabbing his wife by the neck and pinning her against a wall.
He told the court that Reid would often berate his wife and bring up a night out with another man from 20 years prior.
He would shout and swear at her calling her a liar, retard and a f***ing c***, the court heard.
‘When I look at you, I just want to punch your face in’
Mr Townsend said Mrs Reid lived in a state of fear, which came to a “boiling point” on March 22, 2022.
Reid had been “on edge”, the court was told, and was in an “angry and aggressive” mood.
He once again became violent and accused his partner of having an affair and called her a “lying whore”, adding: “When I look at you, I just want to punch your face in” and “Sometimes I just want to kill you”.
Mrs Reid phoned the police after her son, who was also in the house, intervened.
Defence counsel, Stuart Beveridge said Mrs Reid was “not trapped” in her situation as she had her own house to go to, but “she chose to stay”.
Sheriff Robert McDonald sentenced Reid to 163 days in prison and described his “sustained” actions towards his wife as “quite appalling”.
He said: “The alternative to custody would have been if you were willing to attend the Caledonian Program, but it is quite clear you will not cooperate with the social work department.”
Reid was also given a non-harassment order and told not to contact his wife for five years.
