A MAN has been convicted of attacking a woman to the danger of her life during a four-month campaign of violent abuse in Port Glasgow.

A jury found Nathan McKenzie guilty of engaging in a course of conduct which was abusive of the victim in Port Glasgow between November 2021 and February 2022 following an eight-day trial.

During this time, the 20-year-old struck the woman’s head against a washing machine, punched her on the body, bit her on the ear and restricted her breathing by placing his hands on her throat.

McKenzie was originally charged with attempting to remove her underwear and engage in sexual intercourse without her consent, but this was deleted from the charge.

READ MORE: Port Glasgow abuse trial continues at Greenock Sheriff Court 

Sheriff Anthony McGeehan sent the jury to deliberate on Wednesday morning, with the six men and nine women returning their verdict on Thursday.

During the trial, which started last Tuesday, the jury heard evidence from several witnesses – including the complainer, a forensics expert, four police officers and the accused.

The victim gave evidence regarding several incidents involving McKenzie, including an instance when he ‘turned up intoxicated and started smashing windows’ at her home.

Jurors later heard evidence from a police officer who attended the woman’s property on the same night and were shown photographs of a blood-spattered front door which had been smashed.

Greenock Telegraph:

The woman also described incidents in which she sustained injuries to her wrists and upper arms as a result of McKenzie’s actions, and said she was ‘choked’ and ‘strangled’ by him.

She said that on one occasion when she had to contact police, officers told her to hide from McKenzie in her bathroom and lock the door until they arrived at her home.

Two other witnesses told the jury that they had encountered the victim in the street on December 23, 2021 – and that she begged them to call police as she had just been ‘hammered’.

Giving evidence, McKenzie, of Govan, denied losing his temper with the woman and said he ‘deeply’ regretted his involvement with her.

McKenzie will be sentenced at a later date.