A jilted husband who stabbed his wife’s partner, assaulted her and “bombarded” her with a string of threatening texts was jailed for three years.
David Mills will also be the subject of a year-long supervised release order after a sheriff told the 54-year-old the public needed to be protected from the risk of “serious harm”.
Mills, a prisoner at Perth, appeared before Sheriff Kevin Veal at Forfar for sentencing after admitting an indictment relating to offences that happened almost a year after the accused’s separation from his wife.
She went to live in Carnoustie while Mills remained in the former matrimonial home in Dundee.
The assault took place last November, when he grabbed her throat and punched her on the chest before hitting her arm with a car door he kicked as she tried to flee.
In January, Mrs Mills’ partner had gone to the Carnoustie house to let the dog out and the accused approached him, pushing him inside before headbutting him and attempting to stab him with a serrated knife in a struggle that left the victim with numerous puncture wounds on his hand after he tried to grab the blade.
Mills then produced a pen knife and flick knife before telling his victim to leave the house and not make contact with the police.
Defence solicitor David Duncan said his client recognised he was facing a lengthy custodial sentence.
“He accepts that the relationship is over and there are divorce proceedings ongoing,” he said.
“There is no suggestion of continued ill will,” added Mr Duncan.
Sheriff Veal told Mills: “In the current climate, any offence involving a knife, and especially an assault using a knife with a serrated blade, is bound to be regarded as a matter of the utmost gravity.”
He added: “He may have felt aggrieved that his wife had commenced a new relationship, but that does not justify his subsequent criminal behaviour.
“Notwithstanding that the accused comes before the court as a first offender, the gravity of these offences dictate that no sentence other than immediate imprisonment for a significant period is appropriate.”