‘I CAN’T BREATHE’: DRUNK HUSBAND PUT WIFE IN HEADLOCK AND ATTACKED POLICE OFFICER
A woman could not breathe during a violent assault by her husband, committed for no apparent reason.The offender was 43-year-old Thomas Scullion, of Lynnside, Dunduff, near Dunfermline.
He appeared in the dock at Dunfermline Sheriff Court for sentencing.
He admitted that on September 7 at his home he assaulted his wife, seized her by the body, pushed her, pinned her down on a bed and lay on top of her.
He also assaulted a police officer by pushing him on the body.
Depute fiscal Finlay Park said that the couple have been married for nine years.
The wife had been trying to sleep when she was woken up by Scullion who then attacked her.
He pinned her to the bed and she was struggling to breathe.
During the struggle, a smart watch feature automatically called the emergency services and the incident could be heard by a call handler.
The woman was saying: “I can’t breathe” and “You’ve got me in a headlock”.
Scullion responded by telling her: “Shut the f*** up.” Police officers were sent to their house and Scullion then assaulted an officer by pushing him to the chest.
Defence solicitor Chris Sneddon said the couple have a small-holding and his client runs a falconry business.
He went on: “He accepts he has a drink problem and has taken steps to address that.
He was drunk on this occasion and behaved in a completely unacceptable way.
He has been forgiven by his wife and appears to be genuinely remorseful.” Sheriff Mark O’Hanlon imposed a community payback order with one year of supervision.
