A GALASHIELS man accused his 80-year-old wife of sleeping around in her home town during a drunken tirade last weekend.
Forty-seven-year-old John Gallagher Davidson, who is less than five foot tall, also spat on her face and punched her on the head during the confrontation.
His wife, Margaret – described in court as vulnerable, virtually deaf and suffering from other health issues – said she feared for her life during Saturday night’s bust-up at her Langlee flat.
Selkirk Sheriff Court was told on Monday that the couple’s 10-year marriage had come to an end 12 months ago and the pair are currently going through divorce proceedings. A court order is in place preventing Davidson contacting her, but he broke that at around 8pm on Saturday when he turned up at her home.
Tessa Bradley, prosecuting, said: “He locked the door behind him and removed the key, and began verbally abusing her. He said she was s******g everyone in Galashiels and starting spitting on her face and punching her on the head, and repeatedly assaulted her.
The prosecutor went on: “Mrs Davidson stated to police afterwards that she feared for her life. At 4.45am he left her home and returned the key to the back door. She was extremely upset and immediately left her home, still in her nightwear, and walked the short distance to her daughter’s home.
“Miss Law, who is Mrs Davidson’s daughter, called the police.”
When police arrived they noticed Mrs Davidson had fresh grazing to her face and bruising. Officers went to the accused’s home in Church Square, Galashiels, at about 6am and noted his clothing was soaking from walking in the rain.
He was detained, but immediately became abusive to police and had to be handcuffed. He called an officer an English b*****d and during the journey to Hawick police station said the police were paedophiles and rapists.
Ms Bradley said his unruly behaviour continued and he was unco-operative, so was put in a cell. At 7am, two police constables checked the cell and discovered that Davidson had removed all his clothing and smeared the cell walls with his excrement, which required special cleaning to get back to an acceptable standard.
Davidson continued to be obstructive and refused to listen to the officers, placing his fingers in his ears.
Ms Bradley said Mrs Davidson had sustained grazing to her face, but declined medical attention.
Davidson appeared from custody and pleaded guilty to four charges – breaking a court order by communicating with Margaret Davidson; assaulting her by spitting on her, pulling her hair and striking her on the head and body to her injury at a house in Langlee Road; being racially offensive towards a police officer; and behaving in a threatening and abusive manner by smearing the cell walls with excrement.
His lawyer, Iain Burke, said: “Although the relationship has ended for whatever reason, they are less willing to cease all contact, although this is more to do with Mr Davidson.
“Alcohol has been a major reason for their fall-outs and once again it is a factor.
“Under the influence of alcohol, he becomes a fiend,” added the solicitor.
Mr Burke said Davidson expected to be jailed and appealed for maximum discounts to reflect his early guilty pleas.
Sheriff Jamie Gilmour imposed a jail sentence totalling nine months.