INVERNESS MAN JAILED AFTER ‘APPALLING’ DOMESTIC ASSAULT
A woman received an apology from her partner after he assaulted her, only to be threatened with death weeks later.Gary Walker, of Parkfield View, Inverness, was on bail at the time and subject to a non-harassment order aimed at protecting her.
Despite these legal restrictions, Walker ignored the court’s directives by apologizing to his victim in February, visiting her workplace on March 6, and making a threatening comment before sending further messages in May, which included the statement: "I should have killed you." The Inverness Sheriff Court was informed that on October 28 of the previous year, Walker was with the woman in Inverness.
They decided to return to his residence, but an argument broke out during the taxi journey, leading Walker to go home alone.
The court was told that the woman went to his door to retrieve her house keys, which resulted in a confrontation.
Walker then overpowered her, pushed her onto the ground, and physically assaulted her.
He also pulled her hair, threw a clothes horse at her hitting her leg, and poured cider over her.
Walker pleaded guilty to charges of assault causing injury, threatening or abusive behavior, and violating both his bail and non-harassment orders.
He also acknowledged having previous convictions, some of which were similar.
Sheriff Ian Cruickshank sentenced him to eight months imprisonment and imposed a five-year non-harassment order.
The defense solicitor, Patrick O’Dea, expressed that Walker was remorseful for his actions, citing excessive drinking and medication issues as influences, and mentioned his desire to give up alcohol.
Sheriff Cruickshank criticized Walker for blaming his victim for visiting his home uninvited and claiming she attacked him, calling the incident a horrific example of domestic offending and a severe assault.
