A man who threw bleach over his pregnant girlfriend – leaving her skin “bubbling and burning” – has been jailed for more than two years.
Neil Barclay then phoned police claiming Joanne McKillop – at that point covered from her head to legs in the corrosive substance – was banging at his door and that he had only thrown water over her.
But when police attended they found Miss McKillop wet and a strong smell of bleach, with her black top splattered in orange patches where the liquid had made contact with her t-shirt.
She had gone to Mr McKillop’s address to retrieve clothing after the breakdown of the couple’s relationship.
At the time she was 11 weeks pregnant – though Barclay had not yet been told.
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Fiscal depute Saima Rasheed told Dundee Sheriff Court that Miss McKillop had asked for police assistance in going to Barclay’s house to retrieve her clothes – but was told nobody could attend immediately.
Half an hour later she attended herself – and saw Barclay leaning out of a bathroom window directly above her holding a pink bottle of bleach.
Miss Rasheed said: “He proceeded to sqeeuze the contents on to her.
“She put her hea down and the bleach hit her on the back of the head and ran down her arms, legs and back.
“It began to bubble on her skin and she ran to a neighbour and banged the door.
“She ran past him when he answered and into the bathroom in order to wash the bleach off her skin in the shower.
“The accused then phoned 999 saying she was banging on the door and told the call handler: ‘I threw water over her to tell you the truth.'”
The court heard the victim’s black top had orange patches on it where the bleach hit her skin and the fake tan she had on had been removed in patches where the bleach had hit her skin.
Whilst statements were being noted she complained of still being uncomfortable due to feeling a “burning sensation” on her skin and had to go to shower again before completing her statement.
Barclay, 41, a prisoner at HMP Perth, pleaded guilty on indictment to a charge of assault to injury committed on June 6 last year at an address in Greenlee Drive, Dundee.
Defence solicitor John Boyle said Barclay felt “disgust and shame” for the attack.
He said: “The complainer has attended to see him on a number of occasions at Perth prison.
“He’s clearly spent a significant amount of time thinking about his behaviour and has expressed those thoughts to the complainer and indeed me.”
Sheriff Lorna Drummond QC jailed Barclay for 27 months.
She said: “You poured bleach on her which ran down her back, on to her head and legs and caused her skin to bubble.
“I have no doubt that it was impulsive and inherently dangerous behaviour.
“Your partner was pregnant at the time but you didn’t know that.
“The only appropriate disposal is custody for a significant period.”
