Argument over cat led to throat attack

Court reporter • Published 30 Dec 2009 09:13

A ROWING couple - who had been "tearing strips off each other" all day - finally came to blows in an argument over a cat.

Dad David Jenkinson, who has problems with anger management, exploded into a fit of rage during which he grabbed his wife by the throat and pinned her to the bed.

But when the 33-year-old was questioned by police about the violent incident, which took place at the marital home in Bellsmyre, he tried to "explain away" the events by saying he was simply trying to restrain his victim.

Gillian Climie, fiscal depute, told Dumbarton Sheriff Court on Tuesday: "There had been a lot of arguments leading up to this incident and in the early hours of the morning, at around 3am, another argument took place.

"The accused was in the doorway of the living room and the complainer was in the hallway holding one of her pet cats in her arms.

"There was some verbal insult towards the cat and then at this point the accused prodded the cat with his finger.

"The complainer then apparently pushed the accused's shoulder to keep him away from the pet."

It was at this stage that Jenkinson, who has been in a relationship with the victim for around four years and married to her for one, pushed the woman on her chest with both hands, forcing her against the wall of the hallway.

He then seized her around the throat before she was able to break free and make a run for the bedroom.

But Jenkinson followed his victim and pinned her down on the bed, again seizing her round the neck, before the ordeal finally stopped and he calmly walked out of the room.

Ms Climie said that the complainer immediately left the house and went to a neighbour's flat who noticed that she was in a distressed state and had red marks around her neck.

Jenkinson, 33, pled guilty to assaulting his partner - who is sticking by him - at their home on September 14 this year by pushing her on the chest against a wall, seizing her by the neck with both hands, pinning her down on the bed and seizing her neck and wrists to her injury.

A defence lawyer said: "They had been tearing strips off each other in the run up to this.

"He is entirely disgusted by his behaviour in this matter and is genuinely remorseful.

"There appears to be a difficulty with anger management."

Sheriff Desmond Leslie placed Jenkinson, of 9-5 Auchenreoch Avenue, Bellsmyre, on two years probation.

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This article appeared in Dumbarton & Vale of Leven Reporter 29 Dec 09

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