A Perth resident has been handed a significant custodial sentence following a prolonged and brutal assault on his pregnant partner, an attack described in court as ‘vicious and cowardly’. James McColl, 41, subjected the woman to a terrifying ordeal spanning approximately 12 hours, which inflicted severe injuries and left her permanently disfigured.
The harrowing details of the assaults unfolded at McColl’s home on Newhouse Road in Perth. The initial incident occurred on June 28, 2024, when an argument erupted over tobacco. During this confrontation, McColl repeatedly questioned the paternity of her unborn child. The dispute escalated, and despite her pregnancy being 19 weeks along, McColl struck the woman in the face, bruising her eye, and callously remarked that her face was ‘not pregnant’. This attack left her so frightened that she sought immediate emergency accommodation, and a concerned neighbour reported the incident to the police, leading to McColl’s arrest and subsequent release on bail.
Tragically, McColl’s release did not prevent further violence. The second, and more prolonged, assault took place between September 9 and 10 of the same year, by which point the victim was 29 weeks pregnant. She had returned to McColl’s property to retrieve personal belongings, including items for their unborn child, believing he would be absent. However, he unexpectedly returned, immediately launching into a ferocious assault.
The court heard how McColl lunged at her, causing her to fall backward onto a cooker. As she lay on the floor, he relentlessly stamped on the left side of her face with such force that she genuinely believed her jaw had been dislodged. The impact sent a jolt of excruciating pain through her entire body, and her eyes began to bleed. Throughout the sustained attack, McColl continued to stamp on her head and body, including her heavily pregnant stomach, all while subjecting her to vile verbal abuse, calling her a ‘slag’ and a ‘whore’. When she pleaded for him to consider the baby, he callously reiterated, ‘It’s not mine.’
Despite the immense pain and fear, the victim bravely attempted to de-escalate the situation by remaining calm, hoping to appease her attacker. However, the violence persisted throughout the afternoon and into the evening. At one point, as she ventured outside to retrieve washing, McColl followed her, grabbing her by the hair, wrapping it around his hand, and dragging her back inside the property. Fearing for her unborn child’s safety, she did not resist.
Once inside, the assault intensified. McColl seized her by the throat, restricting her breathing, and deliberately pushed a finger into one of her eyes, causing ‘immense pain’. Her eye was left severely bloodshot, swollen, and bruised. He also knelt on her stomach during the prolonged ordeal.
The next morning, the woman awoke to McColl still shouting at her. Seizing an opportunity, she managed to retrieve a phone she had hidden in her underwear and discreetly text a cousin for help. When her cousin arrived, they overheard McColl declare, ‘See who it is. You’re lucky you’re still breathing.’ Confronted by the cousin, McColl feigned remorse, claiming, ‘I didn’t mean to do it,’ before the victim was finally able to escape.
Upon reaching Perth Royal Infirmary, the woman expressed deep concern for her unborn baby, having not felt movement. Medical examinations revealed she was covered in bruises and suffered an eye injury. While a fracture to her jaw had healed, she was left ‘permanently disfigured’ and ‘deformed’. Despite the horrific abuse endured during her pregnancy, she later gave birth to a healthy baby.
Perth Sheriff Court presided over McColl’s case, where his extensive criminal history, including 13 previous domestically aggravated convictions, was highlighted. Defence solicitor Pauline Cullerton stated that McColl was under the influence of cocaine during the attack and claimed he didn’t recall the initial argument. She suggested he had a traumatic response after recalling the victim picking up a knife at one point due to a past assault he had suffered. Despite this, McColl reportedly expressed being ‘disgusted in himself’. He is assessed as being at high risk of reoffending, particularly if he consumes illicit substances.
Sheriff William Wood, in delivering the sentence, firmly condemned McColl’s actions. He remarked, ‘This was a really appalling, cowardly, despicable and vicious attack on the mother of your child, who was then heavily pregnant.’ The Sheriff noted the sustained nature of the assault, potentially lasting up to 12 hours, and found it difficult to accept McColl’s proclaimed regret, especially given his prior bail for a similar offense. The fact that the initial assault did not deter him from committing another, more severe one, underscored the gravity of his actions.
McColl received a three-year prison sentence and will be subject to supervision for one year upon his release. Furthermore, a non-harassment order was imposed, prohibiting him from having any contact with his ex-partner for a decade. This sentence serves as a stark reminder of the severe consequences for domestic violence within our community, aiming to protect victims and deter future offenses.
For those in Perth and Kinross experiencing or concerned about domestic abuse, support and assistance are readily available through organizations such as Scottish Women’s Aid, contactable on 0800 027 1234, and other vital services listed on safer.scot. It is crucial for individuals affected by such issues to know that help is accessible within the community.
The harrowing details of the assaults unfolded at McColl’s home on Newhouse Road in Perth. The initial incident occurred on June 28, 2024, when an argument erupted over tobacco. During this confrontation, McColl repeatedly questioned the paternity of her unborn child. The dispute escalated, and despite her pregnancy being 19 weeks along, McColl struck the woman in the face, bruising her eye, and callously remarked that her face was ‘not pregnant’. This attack left her so frightened that she sought immediate emergency accommodation, and a concerned neighbour reported the incident to the police, leading to McColl’s arrest and subsequent release on bail.
Tragically, McColl’s release did not prevent further violence. The second, and more prolonged, assault took place between September 9 and 10 of the same year, by which point the victim was 29 weeks pregnant. She had returned to McColl’s property to retrieve personal belongings, including items for their unborn child, believing he would be absent. However, he unexpectedly returned, immediately launching into a ferocious assault.
The court heard how McColl lunged at her, causing her to fall backward onto a cooker. As she lay on the floor, he relentlessly stamped on the left side of her face with such force that she genuinely believed her jaw had been dislodged. The impact sent a jolt of excruciating pain through her entire body, and her eyes began to bleed. Throughout the sustained attack, McColl continued to stamp on her head and body, including her heavily pregnant stomach, all while subjecting her to vile verbal abuse, calling her a ‘slag’ and a ‘whore’. When she pleaded for him to consider the baby, he callously reiterated, ‘It’s not mine.’
Despite the immense pain and fear, the victim bravely attempted to de-escalate the situation by remaining calm, hoping to appease her attacker. However, the violence persisted throughout the afternoon and into the evening. At one point, as she ventured outside to retrieve washing, McColl followed her, grabbing her by the hair, wrapping it around his hand, and dragging her back inside the property. Fearing for her unborn child’s safety, she did not resist.
Once inside, the assault intensified. McColl seized her by the throat, restricting her breathing, and deliberately pushed a finger into one of her eyes, causing ‘immense pain’. Her eye was left severely bloodshot, swollen, and bruised. He also knelt on her stomach during the prolonged ordeal.
The next morning, the woman awoke to McColl still shouting at her. Seizing an opportunity, she managed to retrieve a phone she had hidden in her underwear and discreetly text a cousin for help. When her cousin arrived, they overheard McColl declare, ‘See who it is. You’re lucky you’re still breathing.’ Confronted by the cousin, McColl feigned remorse, claiming, ‘I didn’t mean to do it,’ before the victim was finally able to escape.
Upon reaching Perth Royal Infirmary, the woman expressed deep concern for her unborn baby, having not felt movement. Medical examinations revealed she was covered in bruises and suffered an eye injury. While a fracture to her jaw had healed, she was left ‘permanently disfigured’ and ‘deformed’. Despite the horrific abuse endured during her pregnancy, she later gave birth to a healthy baby.
Perth Sheriff Court presided over McColl’s case, where his extensive criminal history, including 13 previous domestically aggravated convictions, was highlighted. Defence solicitor Pauline Cullerton stated that McColl was under the influence of cocaine during the attack and claimed he didn’t recall the initial argument. She suggested he had a traumatic response after recalling the victim picking up a knife at one point due to a past assault he had suffered. Despite this, McColl reportedly expressed being ‘disgusted in himself’. He is assessed as being at high risk of reoffending, particularly if he consumes illicit substances.
Sheriff William Wood, in delivering the sentence, firmly condemned McColl’s actions. He remarked, ‘This was a really appalling, cowardly, despicable and vicious attack on the mother of your child, who was then heavily pregnant.’ The Sheriff noted the sustained nature of the assault, potentially lasting up to 12 hours, and found it difficult to accept McColl’s proclaimed regret, especially given his prior bail for a similar offense. The fact that the initial assault did not deter him from committing another, more severe one, underscored the gravity of his actions.
McColl received a three-year prison sentence and will be subject to supervision for one year upon his release. Furthermore, a non-harassment order was imposed, prohibiting him from having any contact with his ex-partner for a decade. This sentence serves as a stark reminder of the severe consequences for domestic violence within our community, aiming to protect victims and deter future offenses.
For those in Perth and Kinross experiencing or concerned about domestic abuse, support and assistance are readily available through organizations such as Scottish Women’s Aid, contactable on 0800 027 1234, and other vital services listed on safer.scot. It is crucial for individuals affected by such issues to know that help is accessible within the community.