ABUSER THANKS “FAIR” PERTH SHERIFF AS HE IS JAILED FOR TWO-YEAR TERROR CAMPAIGN
A woman who was victimized by her abusive partner, who also blamed her for the violence, expressed gratitude to the “fair” sheriff as he was sentenced to nearly two years in prison.Grant Hunter, during a period of two years marked by ongoing cruelty, violently attacked his partner at their rural residence in Perthshire with an ashpan handle, leaving her with a lifelong scar.
The 43-year-old construction worker, who pleaded guilty to most of the abuse he inflicted on his girlfriend, attempted to persuade the jury that he had hit her accidentally with the tool while trying to protect himself from their dog.
Following the incident, he called emergency services and stated: “I’ve chopped the missus on the head.” Hunter appeared at Perth Sheriff Court for sentencing after a jury convicted him in March of a pattern of abuse towards his partner during and after their tumultuous relationship.
Sheriff Alison McKay addressed Hunter, saying: “I understand that you admitted to much of the charges.” “However, after the trial, the jury concluded that this particular incident was not accidental.” She described this as the most serious event in the case, but added that, overall, the evidence—including the victim’s statement—showed that their home environment was highly unstable.
The sheriff noted that the victim was often “walking on eggshells,” unsure of how Hunter might behave or respond at any given time.
While a pre-sentence report was mostly positive and suggested other options besides prison, the sheriff explained: “The key criterion for me is whether those alternatives are suitable.” “After careful consideration, I am convinced they are not in this case,” she stated.
Hunter was sentenced to 22 months behind bars, and a five-year order was put in place to prevent him from harassing her.
He responded by saying, “Thank you, your honour,” and added, “That’s fair.” Although Hunter admitted to being a domestic abuser, he also tried to shift some blame onto his ex-partner.
He acknowledged shouting, swearing, and threatening her with violence during the final stages and after their 10-year relationship ended.
Previously identified as a problematic neighbor in reports by The Courier, Hunter also admitted to making abusive and intimidating phone calls after police involved him.
However, he denied assaulting her with the ashpan handle.
He claimed he was simply chopping wood with earphones in and that, while swinging back, he had accidentally struck her on the head.
He told the emergency operator that he used three towels to try to control the bleeding, but was unsuccessful.
Her partner was transported to Ninewells Hospital at 12:43 pm, where she received stitches for a seven-inch laceration to her left temple.
More than 16 months later, she still bears a scar from the injury.
