A Fochabers man who assaulted three former partners has avoided a prison sentence.
John Harrold attacked the women on separate occasions between 1998 and 2010.
Yesterday at Elgin Sheriff Court, the 57-year-old was ordered to tell his social worker if he entered a new relationship within the next 18 months.
Harrold assaulted his former wife, Carmen Buchan or Harrold, on one occasion by seizing her collar and pushing her against a wall on Fochabers High Street between March and September 1998.
He then attacked his subsequent partner Glenda McKie at a home in Spey Bay during December 2000 by hitting her on the head, causing her to fall to the floor. He then grabbed her arms and pulled her back to her feet.
On another occasion, he lifted a park bench she was sitting on and dropped it on the ground, striking her on the legs.
Harrold also assaulted another partner, Amanda Grant, at a house in Garmouth by repeatedly pushing her on the body on May 22, 2010.
Defence solicitor Robert Cruickshank said: “Mr Harrold has moved on from this offending and it would be my submission that the victims, who are all former partners of his, have also moved on.”
Harrold, of Milne Road in Fochabers, was sentenced to 243 hours of unpaid work and was placed under supervision for 18 months after pleading guilty to four assault charges.
