Domestic Violence Offender Gets Community Penalty in Forfar

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OFFENDER GETS COMMUNITY PENALTY IN FORFAR

A first-time domestic offender has avoided imprisonment for an attack involving his ex-partner, during which he kicked her in the head as she tried to escape upstairs from his drunken rage.

James Watt, aged 44 and living in Windyedge Place, Forfar, appeared before Sheriff Jillian Martin-Brown at Forfar Sheriff Court after admitting to assaulting his former partner on December 10 of the previous year.

The assault involved grabbing her by the throat, headbutting her, and kicking her to the head, resulting in injuries to the victim.

The court was told that Watt and the woman had been out drinking earlier that evening, and after returning home, an argument erupted that was described as “over nothing.” Watt then physically assaulted her by grabbing her throat and headbutting her, which caused bleeding from her nose.

The victim’s daughter, present during the incident, saw her mother lying on the stairs, bleeding, and called the police.

Watt’s defense solicitor stated that Watt was remorseful, noting that the relationship was now over, and acknowledged that he did not seek to justify his actions.

The court heard that the assault was triggered when the woman bit Watt, and that his daily drinking habits could benefit from intervention.

Sheriff Martin-Brown expressed concern over Watt's lack of empathy toward his victim, emphasizing the seriousness of the assault.

As a result, she sentenced Watt to a two-year Community Payback Order, which includes supervision and 160 hours of unpaid work.