Attacker boasted to cops

Jan 25 2013 by Colin Rutherford, Kilmarnock Standard

A man who carried out a brutal assault on his partner boasted of the attack to police.

At Kilmarnock Sheriff Court on Tuesday 49-year-old Richard Raeside was jailed for a total of 28 months.

Raeside had previously pleaded guilty to assaulting the woman at his home in Fraser Walk, Kilmarnock, in June last year.

The court heard that the two had been drinking together and that an argument had broken out regarding the woman’s visit to her ex-partner earlier that day.

Knowing Raeside to be very jealous, she tried to flee the house, only to find that the door was locked.

It was then that he started punching her on the face, striking her so many times that she lost count.

Raeside produced a wooden kitchen implement and struck her on the body with it.

The woman stood up in an effort to get away but Raeside pushed her to the floor where he continued the attack, striking her on the head and body.

Raeside’s victim was so terrified that she escaped through a window and then hid behind a car, where she was spotted by police who were passing.

She was taken to hospital and was found to have bruising to her face, chest, arms, legs and back, as well as three wounds which required a total of 14 stitches.

When Raeside was apprehended he freely admitted the attack, telling police “I did f***ing hit her,” and “I f***ed her up.”

Raeside was later released on bail with the special condition that he had no contact with his victim.

Only five days later, however, police carrying out a bail check saw her leaving his house through a window.

And a month later he committed a similar offence.

Sandy Currie, defending, said that both bail breaches took place in circumstances where the woman had “sought out” Raeside.

The solicitor told Sheriff Seith Ireland: “You will understand from the report that he is an alcoholic. The lady in question had a similar affliction and the two of them drank together.”

Mr Currie said: “The lady was prepared to forgive him and continue the relationship.”

He described Raeside as “a jealous man who has difficulty controlling his anger”.

Mr Currie said that his client would have to deal with his drink problem if he was to stay out of trouble.

Sheriff Ireland described the attack as “a prolonged and vicious assault”.

He told Raeside: “You beat her most severely and caused extensive bruising and wounds to her face which required significant stitching.”

Said the sheriff: “In my view, given the nature of the matter no other disposal than custody is appropriate.”

In addition to imposing a jail sentence, Sheriff Ireland also made a supervised release order. Raeside will be subject to supervision, including alcohol treatment, for 10 months after he is released.