Elgin man jailed after viciously assaulting woman in Cumming Circle road

A man has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for viciously assaulting a woman.

Inverness Sheriff Court heard that Andrew Clark, from Elgin, kicked and stamped on her head after earlier threatening to hit her with a rock on May 14, last year.

Video footage of the assault was shown in court.

Clark, of Hossack Drive, later threatened to cut his own throat after police forced entry to his home on the same day.

Officers had to deploy a PAVA spray and their batons to make him drop the knife.

The 31-year-old admitted committing the serious assault in Cumming Circle, Elgin and a charge of threatening behaviour.

Defence agent Stephen Carty said his client had a number of mental health conditions and was currently engaging with drug and alcohol services.

In regards to the assault on the woman, the court had previously heard from fiscal depute Emily Hood that: “He pushed her backwards and then repeatedly punched her on the head, causing her to fall to the ground before repeatedly kicking and stamping on her head.

“This was captured by a witness on his mobile phone.”

Clark walked away from the scene, and when police arrived, they found the woman slumped on the ground in front of her house with swelling to her face and a cut on the bridge of her nose.

“A CT scan confirmed that she suffered a fracture around her left eye, cheek and the nasal bone and a concussion," Ms Hood said.

The court heard Clark was traced to his home but refused entry to the officers, who then forced entry.

Ms Hood went on: "He was in a small corridor in possession of a knife which he held to his throat, stating he would cut it if officers came any closer.

“He momentarily removed the knife from his throat, allowing an officer to deploy his PAVA spray into his eyes."

Officers then grabbed his wrist and one used his baton to strike his arm, causing him to drop the knife, which had a three-inch blade. He was then arrested.

Sheriff Gary Aitken sentenced Clark to serve 18 months and nine months, to run concurrently.

Sheriff Aitken said: “Given the nature of charge two and the violence, repeatedly stamping on someone’s head, to significant injury, behaviour of this kind is not acceptable.”