A MAN who was charged with assaulting a woman to the danger of her life following an alleged four-month period of abuse has told a Greenock jury that he ‘deeply’ regrets his involvement with her.
Nathan McKenzie, 20, is accused of engaging in a course of conduct in Port Glasgow which was abusive of the complainer between November 2021 and February 2022.
It is alleged that he struck her head against a washing machine, forcibly removed her clothing, punched her on the body, bit her on the ear and restricted her breathing by placing his hands on her throat.
He is also accused of attempted to remove the woman’s underwear and engage in sexual intercourse without her consent.
McKenzie – who was 18 at the time of the alleged offences – was asked about an incident on December 23, 2021.
The jury previously heard evidence from witnesses who saw the complainer ‘screaming’ in the street and begging strangers to call the police after she had been ‘hammered’.
McKenzie, of Govan, said an argument had erupted between the pair at her home but denied losing his temper.
He added: “She started scratching and slapping me. I did put my hands on her wrists to restrain her.
“I got pushed back on the couch. She got on top of me and started punching.
“I had to push her to the side so I could get off the couch.”
Prosecutors say McKenzie conducted himself in an aggressive manner, shouted and swore, stuck doors, damaged a window and demanded entry to her home.
READ MORE: Man on trial charged with attacking woman in Port Glasgow
Further charges allege that he restricted, hindered or obstructed officers on January 25, 2022, and that he failed to comply with bail conditions not to approach the woman on several occasions between December 2021 and February 2022.
A police officer who attended the property that evening said there was a ‘clear sense of disturbance’ within, and that a ‘cool and collected’ McKenzie was later conveyed to Clydebank police office after being traced at his own home address.
McKenzie was granted bail on December 24, 2021 – subject to the conditions that he did not approach or contact the woman and that he remained in his home between the hours of 7pm and 7am.
He told jurors that, despite this, he resided at the complainer’s home throughout January 2022 as the pair had agreed to try to ‘resolve what happened’.
The woman’s mother gave evidence before the jury, recalling an occasion on January 31, 2022 when she dialled 999 because McKenzie was at her daughter’s home ‘shouting and bawling’.
The witness, who spoke with her daughter on a Facetime call, said: “I knew she was in danger.
“She’s screaming he was going to kill her. She was showing me her ear where he had bit it.
“She was terrified.”
The jury also heard evidence from two police officers who were called to the complainer’s property on January 25, 2022 and found McKenzie in the garden.
It is alleged that the accused smashed the window on the woman’s front door on this occasion.
One officer said: “He ran into the bushes next to the fence and began to kick out with his legs.
“He was kicking towards me.
“I told him to come out the bushes. He backflipped over the fence.”
Defence advocate Andrew Murphy asked McKenzie: “Do you regret all of this?”
He replied: “Deeply.”
Mr Murphy said: “Are you looking forward to putting all of this behind you?”
McKenzie responded: “Definitely.”
The trial before Sheriff Anthony McGeehan continues.
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