NORTH-EAST WOMAN SURVIVES BRUTAL ATTACK BY DOMESTIC ABUSER—YET AVOIDS JAIL
A woman named Gillian MacGregor was subjected to a violent attack by her partner, Christopher Chesterton, at their home in the north-east.During the incident, Chesterton choked MacGregor unconscious after a heated argument about her children.
MacGregor recounted that Chesterton grabbed her by the throat and threatened her by saying, "I’m going to kill you." She was seriously injured and relived her traumatic experience publicly, urging other victims of domestic abuse not to suffer in silence.
Chesterton was initially accused of severe assault that endangers life but was convicted of a lesser charge after a jury's verdict.
He was sentenced to perform 240 hours of unpaid work and attend a two-year domestic abuse intervention program, despite the fact that he avoided imprisonment.
MacGregor expressed ongoing fear even 13 months after the attack, saying she cannot go shopping alone and feels constantly on edge.
Her mother labeled the punishment as an injustice, but MacGregor emphasized the importance of victims coming forward, noting that Chesterton's conviction will be on his record and could prevent him from harming others.
The incident took place on September 5, 2014, and Chesterton was tried at Peterhead Sheriff Court.
The sheriff, Andrew Miller, explained that the court was guided by the jury's verdict which resulted in a community-based sentence, as the original assault charge was reduced.
