DUNDEE MAN AVOIDS PRISON AFTER ASSAULTING MOTHER OF BABY
A man who was cleared of attempting to murder a baby has avoided imprisonment for assaulting the child’s mother.Ryan Devaney, 28, was ordered to complete 300 hours of community service following a High Court hearing in Edinburgh yesterday.
Devaney stood trial last month on charges of attempting to murder the infant at various addresses in Dundee.
However, after deliberating for a day, the jury returned a verdict of not proven.
Despite this, Devaney pleaded guilty to five counts of physically attacking the baby’s mother and a man, both of whom are anonymized for legal reasons, during 2015 and 2016.
The judge, Lord Woolman, imposed a community payback order, warning Devaney that failure to complete the community service within two years could lead to him being recalled to court and sent to prison.
Lord Woolman emphasized, 'If you do not comply with the terms of this order, you will come back to this court and you face the possibility of being sent to prison.' Previously, the child's mother testified that she had allowed Devaney to care for her child on multiple occasions.
She recorded Devaney after noticing unexplained injuries on her son.
She described her suspicions growing when she was not present and Devaney was caring for the child.
The mother also recounted incidents of violence by Devaney, including an occasion where he placed his hands around her throat.
Mr.
McConnachie, defending Devaney, acknowledged that his client understood his actions were wrong and expressed his client’s determination to become a lawful individual.
Devaney has since moved to Swindon and is employed as a painter and decorator.
The judge stated he would review the community order in a year’s time.
