A man who slashed his ex-partner’s face after he lost his temper at her home was jailed for three years at Wick Sheriff Court yesterday.
The court heard that Douglas Wilkie and Michelle Ross, both 30, were no longer in a relationship when the incident occurred on November 3, last year.
However, they had remained friends despite splitting up and she had found a new boyfriend.
The accused and Miss Ross had met up, on November 3, last year and went back to her home in Shebster Court, Thurso.
There was “an exchange of words” which triggered an argument. Wilkie lost his temper, picked up a kitchen knife and struck Miss Ross in what fiscal depute, David Barclay, described as “a swiping, rather than a stabbing motion”.
Miss Ross who sustained an inch-long cut on her left cheek, which drew blood, had the wound treated in hospital. It was not expected to leave a permanent scar. Wilkie pleaded guilty on indictment to assaulting Miss Ross by cutting her face with a knife to her severe injury and disfigurement.
Solicitor Graham Mann said that there had been “nothing premeditated” about the attack.
He added:”The accused doesn’t understand why he was calm one moment and the next, he was completely enraged.”
Sheriff Andrew Berry said it wasn’t the first time Wilkie had appeared on a weapon charge and went on: “I have no way of knowing if your conduct is ever going to end or whether you are going to spend your life in and out of prison.”
The sheriff added: “I get the impression that you think you have a certain standing in the community and if someone has done you wrong you feel you have to do something about it”
The prison term imposed on Wilkie, who was described as a prisoner at Inverness prison, was backdated to November 4 when he was arrested.
