Jail for Angus thug after jewellery box assault

An Angus thug who left his partner bleeding heavily in a jewellery box assault has been jailed for 11 months.

Jamie Urquhart had “flipped out” in the June attack, which was overheard by a police officer dealing with a separate incident in Kirriemuir High Street.

Forfar Sheriff Court was told Urquhart and partner Catherine Forbes had been living together on and off for around six months at the time of the offence, which happened just after 11pm.

Depute fiscal Bill Kermode said the police officer heard screaming and shouting from a property below and called for assistance.

But 29-year-old Urquhart told the officer: “It’s okay, we don’t need the police.”

Mr Kermode said: “She then opened the door and said it was only a small argument but police saw her right ear was bleeding heaving and she was struggling to put out her right leg.

“She said they were arguing and the accused had flipped out and hit her with a jewellery box.”

Urquhart had been taking valium, which the victim told police made him become aggressive, but she refused to provide a statement to police.

The woman did not require stitches to the ear wound she suffered and Urquhart sent her a text message saying: “I’m sorry, things got out of hand.”

Appearing from custody, Urquhart, of Croft Terrace, Kirriemuir admitted assaulting the woman on June 25 and charges of failing to appear in court and breaching bail.

Defence solicitor Billy Rennie said that despite an extensive record, Urquhart did not have any violence convictions since 2009.

“The relationship will not continue and he has found the period on remand during lockdown particularly difficult,” said Mr Rennie.

Sheriff Gregor Murray told Urquhart: “Nine times you have been convicted of breaching a community payback order or probation.

“Equally, what worries me is that although you have no record of violence this shows an upsurge in offending and you are lucky that the outcome in this case was not more serious.”