INVERNESS MAN SENTENCED FOR SEVERE DOMESTIC ASSAULT AND THROTTLING PARTNER
A man identified as James Newlands, aged 23, from Kessock Road, Inverness, was found guilty of domestic abuse after a jury trial at Inverness Sheriff Court.The court heard that between April 1, 2019, and November 29, 2022, Newlands engaged in a course of violent and abusive behavior towards his former partner, including throttling her to the point of unconsciousness.
The conduct also involved screaming, shouting, and attempting to pressure her into rekindling their relationship.
The court described his actions as "appalling" and causing significant damage to his partner.
Sheriff Eilidh Macdonald emphasized the importance of rehabilitation over imprisonment, sentencing Newlands to 200 hours of unpaid community work, two years of social supervision, and mandatory participation in the Caledonia Men’s Programme addressing domestic abuse.
The sheriff warned that failure to comply could result in jail time, stating, "If you fail in any small part, you will come back here and I will have no hesitation to send you to jail."
