Violent Port Glasgow abuser sentenced to community order

Nathan McKenzie, 20, hit his victim's head against a washing machine in Port Glasgow, punched her on the body, forcibly removed hair from her scalp, bit her on the ear and choked her.

He was originally accused of attempting to remove the woman's underwear and engage in sexual intercourse without her consent, but this was deleted from the final indictment charge.

McKenzie, who was found guilty by a jury of eight charges following an eight-day trial in January, was a teenager at the time of the offences between November 2021 and February 2022.

Nathan McKenzie (Image: NQ)

He was spared further time in prison when he appeared at Greenock Sheriff Court for a sentencing hearing, having spent more than a year on remand - equivalent to a near two-year jail term.

Sheriff Anthony McGeehan told him: "This was an aggravated course of domestic abuse and violent, coercive and controlling behaviour during which you not only caused injury but also danger to life.

READ MORE: Man on trial charged with attacking woman to danger of life in Port Glasgow

"You have accepted very little responsibility, you have denied certain offences occurred, apportioned blame to the complainer and used a derogatory term to describe her."

Imposing a community-based punishment which includes the maximum amount of unpaid work hours, sex offender notification requirements and a non-harassment order, the sheriff said the sentence 'provides an opportunity for effective rehabilitation'.

The victim spoke of 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 that had been smashed.

The woman also described incidents during which she sustained injuries to her wrists and upper arms as a result of McKenzie’s violence, 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.

McKenzie, represented by instructing solicitor Amy Spencer and defence advocate Andrew Murphy, was assessed in a criminal justice social work report as being of a medium risk of reoffending, the court was told.

During his evidence, he denied losing his temper with the woman and said he ‘deeply’ regretted his involvement with her.

Mr Murphy said: "There is much I would like to say about the case but the jury's verdict is what it is.

"The jury did delete the most significant part of the libel.

READ MORE: Domestic abuser who issued 'bullet' threat to ex spared jail after apology offer

"The complainer didn't require any kind of medical intervention or treatment for what happened to her.

"I would submit that these were not the most serious injuries."

The advocate told the court that McKenzie has 'learned his lesson' and has 'in one sense completed the punitive element of the disposal' having effectively served a two-year sentence.

However, he added: "He realises that the matter is not finished.

"It is unlikely that he would have the nerve or the stupidity to go anywhere near the complainer."

McKenzie, who now has a Glasgow address and has one previous conviction from when he was a child, was ordered to complete 300 hours of unpaid within two years.

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He will supervised for the same length of time and must not approach or contact the victim for three years, while he will be subject to notification requirements for two years. A review of the order will be heard at the sheriff court in June.

Alongside the domestic abuse charge, he was convicted of breaching bail curfew conditions on six separate occasions by being outwith his home address during restricted hours and contacting the victim when he was told to stay away from her.

He also uttered threats of violence towards four police officers in January 2022, kicked out with his legs, attempted to flee and struggled with them.

Referring to a 'pattern of behaviour', Sheriff McGeehan told him: "It is imperative that you address this to reduce the potential of harm to future partners."

McKenzie will also be required to notify his supervising officer of any new, emerging, intimate or casual relationships.