Made up attack story

Dec 28 2012 by Alison Lowson, Strathearn Herald

A Perthshire man telephoned police shortly before 1am to tell them his girlfriend had attacked him with a vodka bottle.

Twenty-eight-year-old Victor Colquhoun, of North Crofts, Auchterarder, showed officers swelling to the side of his head where he claimed Natalie Donaghy had struck him twice during a drunken argument.

She was arrested and spent several hours in police custody until Colquhoun rang at 3am to admit he had told them a pack of lies.

It turned out he had inflicted the injuries on himself, Perth Sheriff Court was told.

That incident - and an earlier attack on his partner during which he tried to throttle her - earned him a nine-month jail term when he appeared for sentence.

He admitted wasting police time at his home on May 19 by falsely claiming he had been subjected to a domestic assault.

He was on a June 22 bail order from the Perth court at the time.

He also pleaded guilty to repeatedly punching Ms Donaghy on the face and body on May 19, placing his hands around her neck and compressing it, to her injury.

He further admitted pushing her while she was holding a young child.

Depute fiscal Robbie Brown said the domestic incident happened about 2am after an argument.

He became aggressive and began punching her before straddling her and putting his hands round her neck.

“She struggled to breathe for a short period of time,” he added.

She managed to shout for help and her cousin, who was in the house, went to her aid and she managed to get free.

“She suffered scratches, bruising and swelling to her face and neck, as well as bruises to both arms and her hand but declined medical attention,” he explained.

The vodka bottle ‘attack’ resulted in five hours of police time being wasted. Both the accused and his partner had been drinking that day.

“The complainer had gone to bed just after midnight and about 12.45am police were telephoned by the accused who stated he had been hit over the head by Miss Donaghy.

“When interviewed under caution, she denied the offence and said the accused must have inflicted the injuries himself.”

She was freed about 4am after the accused admitted he had made up the allegation.

Solicitor Linda Clark said the accused was still in a relationship with Miss Donaghy and she was present in court.

Regarding the wasting police time charge, Mrs Clark added: “I don’t know where the truth lies.

“But he says he did make the entire scenario up.”