PERTH MAN SENTENCED FOR ASSAULT ON PREGNANT WOMAN AND THEFTS
The article describes how David Hodge, aged 29 from Struan Road, Perth, was involved in an assault incident at an address in Ballingry in Fife on May 10 of the previous year.During the incident, he was found to have physically assaulted a pregnant woman, who was 20 weeks pregnant at the time.
Witnesses reported that Hodge used a loud voice to question her whereabouts before becoming aggressive.
The court heard that Hodge grabbed the woman around the neck, restricting her breathing and pinning her to a sofa, which caused her to have a bruised knee and neck soreness, although she did not seek medical attention at the time.
It was initially feared that her unborn child might have been harmed, but hospital checks confirmed there was no injury or damage.
Hodge admitted to assaulting and injuring the woman in this manner, as well as acting in a threatening or abusive manner during the incident.
Additionally, he pleaded guilty to stealing a T-shirt from River Island on December 4 of the previous year and an iPad from a house in Perth on June 7 of the current year.
The iPad was recovered after he had placed it for sale online but refused to return it when confronted.
The court sentenced Hodge to perform 180 hours of unpaid work for the assault and a further 105 hours for theft, in addition to paying £300 compensation to the victim.
The judge, Sheriff William Wood, indicated that if any further similar offences occur, Hodge would risk losing his liberty, noting that he had taken steps to improve his life since the crimes.
