Woman attacked while making 999 call, Tain court hears

A MAN, who knocked on a woman’s door at midnight and assaulted her as she was phoning 999, was jailed for a year yesterday.

Richard Watson was heard attacking Sheila Annal, 24 Firhill, Alness, by an emergency call operator, Tain Sheriff Court heard yesterday.

Passing sentence Sheriff Jamie Gilchrist said: “This was an extremely serious assault on a householder at the door of her own home in the middle of the night. It is quite disgraceful.”

The assault, on 28th December, was the second to be committed in the space of a month by Watson, whose address was given as 2 Redwood Avenue, Inverness, but who was also referred to as having a tenancy in Evanton.

The 22-year-old attacked John Lamont at his home in Chapel Road, Evanton, on 8th December, seizing him by his throat and punching him on the face.

The two had been drinking and Watson, who was about to be made homeless, became angry when Lamont refused his request to stay with him, the court was told.

Procurator fiscal Michelle Mollie said that just three weeks after that offence, Watson turned up on Sheila Annal’s doorstep asking for “protection”.

“Ms Annal had no knowledge what this was about and resisted attempts by the accused to enter her home,” said the fiscal.

“She made a 999 call to police and the assault occurred during the telephone call. Ms Annal was understandably distressed and the 999 operator overheard her cries for help.

“Officers attended at her house and Miss Annal was conveyed for medical treatment. She had severe swelling around her left eye socket.”

Police later caught up with Watson outside the Commercial Hotel in Alness but he resisted arrest.

“There was a short struggle and Mr Watson lunged towards both police officers,” she said.

Watson, who has been remanded in custody since 30th December, admitted two charges of assault and a third charge of struggling with police constables and restricting them from executing their duty.

He also admitted breaching a community payback order, which he was under at the time he committed the assaults.

The two-year order was imposed in November 2012 after Watson admitted damaging patio doors at his father’s house, Dunroaming, River Lane, Alness, on 8th October, 2012.

Defence agent Alison Foggo claimed her client’s attack on Mr Lamont had been provoked.

“Although the Crown narrative is that the argument between the drunken pair was over Mr Watson staying at Mr Lamont’s house, that is not Mr Watson’s position,” she said.

“He says he was hit on the head with a cup and he retaliated. He left the house upset and distressed and immediately phoned his mother. My understanding is that it was her who phoned police because she was concerned for her son’s safety.

“His mother went to Evanton and picked him up. He was sporting an injury to his head.”

Ms Foggo said her client had little recollection of the 28th December assault but recognised it was a serious matter.

She said Watson was a friend of Ms Annal’s son and had been in her house on a couple of occasions.

Ms Foggo said Watson was seeking sanctuary from Ms Annal after becoming concerned about the intentions of two individuals on a nearby street.

“Mr Watson’s inability to control himself, and indeed recollect the events of 28th December, are indicative of a misuse of alcohol – he seems to have been intoxicated to a substantial degree,” said the lawyer.

Ms Foggo pointed out that a Criminal Justice report on Watson suggested that his community payback order should be continued with possibly the addition of a restriction of liberty order.

However Sheriff Jamie Gilchrist imposed a nine-month jail sentence for the assault on Ms Annal and three months for the assault on John Lamont.

The sheriff also revoked the community payback order and fined Watson £800 on the original offences with no time to pay, meaning he will also have to spend an additional statutory 14 days in jail.

The sheriff told Watson: “You have a previous conviction for an assault to injury and you have two previous convictions for resisting police, both of which resulted in detention.

“The background report on you is pretty bleak and it is high time you started taking responsibility for your action.”