MAN WHO CHOKED AND BIT PREGNANT PARTNER HANDED JAIL SENTENCE
James Stewart attended Peterhead Sheriff Court on Wednesday, where he received a sentence for a sustained period of domestic abuse against a woman.The abuse occurred over more than one year.
The 34-year-old, who had appeared from prison for the proceedings, is set to serve an additional two years in the custody of HMP Grampian.
During the hearing, it was revealed that Stewart and the woman had been in a relationship since July 2022, with his behaviour worsening in 2023.
Fiscal depute Ruaridh McAllister noted that Stewart was a frequent user of crack cocaine at the time, and that the couple frequently argued.
“Between Christmas and New Year of 2023, while the accused’s address was Stuartfield, an argument developed during which the accused assaulted the complainer within the living room,” he said.
“He dragged her body, forced her onto a sofa and restrained her.
“During this assault, the accused repeatedly punched the complainer on the head and body.
The accused picked up a gas canister and struck her to the head and face with it, causing her lip to burst.
“The assault continued.
The accused knelt over her on the sofa and compressed her windpipe with one hand.
She felt unable to breathe.
She continued to struggle and eventually managed to escape.” She would explain her bruises to family members as a “drunken fall down the stairs”.
The woman would be granted a council property in Peterhead sometime later, where she continued to suffer abuse at the hands of Stewart.
Mr McAllister said that throughout the pair’s relationship, Stewart would accuse his ex of cheating on him and would make demands to have her mobile phone to check any messages.
“After the complainer was granted a council property [in Peterhead], she attempted to end the relationship,” he added.
“The accused refused to accept this and repeatedly contacted her by social media and threatening to harm himself if she did not resume the relationship.” She would relent in 2024, but the attacks continued.
And in a sickening display of violence, Stewart would choke the woman while she was four months pregnant because she would not give him money for drugs.
“The accused approached the complainer and seized the complainer by the throat,” he said.
“The complainer was unable to breathe and was gasping for air.
The accused continued to hold her by the throat for several minutes.
During this time the complainer was unable to fight back effectively.
She was attempting to protect her abdomen for fear the accused would strike her stomach.” Stewart would go on to bite the woman on the face before taking her phone.
Representing Stewart, advocate John Brannigan said his client was in the “grips of a very serious drug addiction” at the time of his offending.
“Following the loss of his mother, he seems to have developed this cycle of substance abuse,” he added.
“He does seem to have made some progress in the custodial setting.
He is taking steps to better himself.” Mr Brannigan noted that Stewart was “realistic” about the options open to the court.
Agreeing there was only one route available to the court, Sheriff Annella Cowan branded Stewart’s actions as “absolutely abhorrent” in her sentencing.
“There really is no alternative but a custodial sentence,” she told him.
“This was a prolonged campaign and whatever difficulties you had in your life, or your partner may have had in her life, the assaulting of her and compromising her airways when she was pregnant is absolutely abhorrent.” In addition to his time behind bars, he will be banned from contacting the woman or her child for the next five years.
