Keith man who abused and assaulted partners over 13-year period jailed

A Keith man who abused, controlled and assaulted three of his partners over a 13 year period has been jailed for 18 months.

Colin Morrison, of Nelson Terrace, was also banned from contacting or approaching his victims, who were left "petrified and terrified" by him.

Morrison was appearing for sentence at Inverness Sheriff Court after a background report had been prepared following his guilty plea to three charges, including two of stalking and one of assault to severe injury and permanent disfigurement.

Sheriff Sara Matheson told Morrison: "These are serious domestic offences carried out over a period of 13 years and involving three separate complainers and you went on to commit further offences.

"They disclose a pattern of controlling and coercive behaviour which also involved serious violence and permanent disfigurement."

The court had previously been told that one woman who was six to seven months pregnant had a television set held over her head by the 47-year-old and she was convinced she was going to be struck with it.

But fiscal depute Naomi Duffy-Welsh told Sheriff Matheson that Morrison tapped the frightened partner on the head with it before putting it down.

The court heard that before this during the relationship between 2001 and 2013, Morrison head-butted the woman which left her with a scar on her nose.

On another occasion, she was planning a hen-do, but he dragged her out of the house into a car and threatened to drive into a tree.

In 2008, he picked her up from Huntly railway station.

"He was in a bad mood and as he drove, he suddenly slammed on the brakes, reversed sharply and hit a road sign" the prosecutor added.

During 2009, Morrison and his partner returned home from a night out in Keith and he was angry and attacked her, striking her on the nose and breaking it.

Her nose was squint and medical staff had to break it again to straighten it.

A second woman was Morrison's partner between 2012 and 2014, even while he was married.

"He regularly became angry, especially when he had been drinking, complaining about her size even although she was slim, criticised her make-up and appearance and called her stupid.

"He persistently called and texted her fluctuating from pleading to see her to abuse her and make threats. She was frightened as he would regularly turn up at her house uninvited." Ms Duffy-Welsh continued.

The third woman was with him around 2014, and Sheriff Matheson heard that if he didn't buy her alcohol, he would lose his temper and threaten self harm, once sending her a photo of himself lying on the floor with his wrists bleeding.

Defence counsel Bill Adam: "Alcohol addiction has plagued him for many years and he has made efforts to reduce this dependency.

“He is not quite totally free of it and he is not offering it as an excuse, more in a way of explanation.

"He is remorseful and accepts his actions are unacceptable."