A 40-year-old man with a history of violence was jailed for 162 days after an outburst involving his pregnant ex-partner.
Richard McKendrick appeared from custody at Selkirk Sheriff Court on Monday and admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner, repeatedly shouting and swearing, and throwing furniture about at a flat in Raemartin Square, West Linton, on January 29 last year.
During the outburst, McKendrick lifted a bed, ripped off a footboard and struggled with his former partner, who was in the early stages of pregnancy at the time, to her injury.
The accused’s solicitor said his client had been receiving help for drug addiction and the relationship between McKendrick and his partner was at an end, although “their love at that time was in full bloom”.
Sheriff Kevin Drummond said McKendrick, of Castleview House, Moredun, Edinburgh, had breached all previous community-based disposals and custody was the only option.
“You are 40 years of age and have a significant criminal record, which includes significant offences of violence,” Sheriff Drummond told McKendrick.
The sheriff went on: “You have pled guilty to behaving in a threatening, abusive manner, likely to cause fear and alarm, and this was a significant incident.
“The report before the court describes you as at maximum risk of reoffending and a high risk of harm.”
McKendrick also received a concurrent sentence of 40 days’ imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to breaching a bail condition on March 21 not to approach or contact his former partner; breaching a bail condition not to enter the Scottish Borders or contact his former partner on March 27; and breaching a bail condition after failing to appear at Selkirk Sheriff Court on June 27.