A vicious Angus thug has been jailed for a Perth hotel assault in which he put his foot on his girlfriend’s neck.
James Mowatt battered the woman when she came at him in a “wildcat” attack over text messages she found on his phone in a room at Perth’s Queen’s Hotel in June this year.
After five years in a stable relationship and outside the attention of the courts, the assault was condemned by Sheriff Pino Di Emidio, who said the 35-year-old’s previous record for violent offending meant prison was inevitable.
Appearing on indictment at Forfar, Mowatt, described as a prisoner at Perth, admitted assaulting his victim in the hotel room on June 17 by pushing her to the ground, placing his foot on her neck and restricting her breathing and behaving in a threatening manner.
He then breached a bail condition banning him from entering Forfar or contacting the victim by approaching her and communicating with her in Forfar and Kirriemuir on August 11.
Appealing for Mowatt to be given his liberty, defence solicitor Ann Duffy said the accused had spent four months on remand, resumed his relationship with his former partner and has the offer of full-time employment.
“He had desisted from offending for five years before this offence and that was as a result of being in a stable relationship.
“It’s clear from the record and the nature of the offences that there are addiction issues and substance abuse issues.
“He found himself in a situation where he was awoken by the complainer who had found text messages and what started as a defensive situation turned into an offensive situation. There was no significant injury and no danger to life.”
Sheriff Di Emidio said: “The significant consideration is that he has six convictions for assault to injury or assault to severe injury – that is a stumbling block for him.”
Jailing Mowatt for 18 months on the assault charge and 95 days for the bail breach, he told the accused: “You have a significant record for violence stretching back to 1999.”
