An Inverness man who had “a fixation for burning his partners with cigarettes” escaped a jail sentence yesterday for a catalogue of domestic assaults.
25-year-old Dale Broadbent, was warned by Sheriff Margaret Neilson at Inverness Sheriff Court that if he did not comply with her community payback order to do 250 hours of unpaid work and co-operate with social work supervision for the next 18 months, he would go to prison.
Last month, Broadbent, of Union Street, was convicted of trying to gouge out the eyes of 22-year-old Morven Mackenzie in a row over a damaged mobile phone.
Inverness Sheriff Court heard that it was her courage in speaking to the police which brought other assaults on her and Broadbent’s previous girlfriend, Michelle Kotze, to court.
Broadbent again appeared before Sheriff Margaret Neilson five days later on March 28 and admitted assaulting Miss Mackenzie in his flat in Queen Street, Nairn between September 1 last year and January 19.
He was charged with repeatedly pressing a lit cigarette into her body, seizing hold of her and striking her on the head with his head.
He also pleaded guilty to assaulting Miss Kotze in her flat in Leopold Street, Nairn on various occasions between October1, 2016 and July 31, 2017.
Fiscal depute Fiona Murray told the court: “He seems to have a fixation for using cigarettes as part of his abuse, often flicking a cigarette at his victim or inflict a burn on the body.”
She revealed that although police were made aware of the ongoing abuse towards Miss Kotze, there was insufficient evidence to have him charged.
However Mrs Murray went on: “It was only as a result of Miss Mackenzie coming forward, the earlier offence could be prosecuted.”
The unpaid work order was imposed for the assault on Miss Mackenzie and a review was fixed for July 23.
Sentence was then deferred to the same date for the assaults on Miss Kotze.
