Saltcoats: Ryan Fisher jailed after attack on ex-partner

Ryan Fisher was handed the sentence pleaded guilty to one charge of assault when he appeared in the dock at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court last week.

The incident took place at Fisher's former home in Talisman Walk on February 11 this year, procurator fiscal depute Jemma McKechnie explained.

The 42-year-old had been in what was described as an "on-off" relationship with the woman involved - referred to as the complainer - at the time of the attack.

On Saturday, February 10, the pair had been within the Saltcoats property together, where they were joined by a friend.

"In the evening his ]Fisher's] mood fluctuated towards her," Ms McKechnie told the court. "He began shouting at her."

This aggression escalated at around 4am, on what was now the morning of February 11, when Fisher was unable to find drugs to take within his home.

Ryan Fisher. (Image: Sourced)

His attention, at this stage, turned towards the woman who he accused of stealing these drugs from him.

Fisher, who is now described as a prisoner at HMP Kilmarnock, then grabbed the complainer after he "launched" himself towards her.

He threw her on to a foot stool and held her down, then rummaged through her pockets.

Fisher later grabbed her by the throat before putting his knee on her neck causing her to struggle to breathe on both occasions. He also clenched his fist and pushed it into her face.

The Saltcoats man continued to struggle with his former partner, who was asking him to get off of her, and pleading with another man within the property for help.

During this struggle the woman's earring was ripped off of her, causing her to ear to bleed.

She eventually got him off her neck and got out of his grasp before asking to leave the property, however Fisher only continued in his aggression and grabbed her again by a necklace she was wearing.

The woman managed to get away into a nearby bedroom, where she started collecting her belongings.

Fisher later found his way in, grabbed her by the body and threw her out of the room. The complainer then exited the property before phoning police.

Officers attended thereafter and approached the woman who was still standing outside nearby, noticing the blood on her ear and marks on her face at this time.

Police went to property and were allowed entry, finding Fisher to be in an agitated state.

Upon their entry, the 42-year-old told officers that "it was a lot of s***" and that the complainer was a “thieving wee junky”.

He was then taken to Kilmarnock police station where he was officially cautioned and charged later that morning, and he was again replied that the matter was "a lot of nonsense".

(Image: Staff)

Defending, solicitor Graeme Cunningham explained that Fisher had met the complainer at a time where she had nowhere to stay.

He said: "He allowed her to stay with him and she did, on and off. There was no real relationship except for casual interactions. It was never really firmed up.

"During the course of the relationship he started to realise items going missing - both those that had been lawfully or unlawfully obtained.

"He formed the view that she was responsible with little or no evidence other than her being about. It came to a head on the night in question and he put the blame on her.

"There is no excuse for what happened and there isn’t much that can be said in mitigation."

Mr Cunningham also commented that although Fisher had a number of previous convictions, only one matter referred to a domestically aggravated assault, which took place in 2006.

He added: "He knows with his record that custody is inevitable. It does him no favours.

"He is not a man who takes any pride in his record and he is hopeful that this period of custody will be his last. He feels fed up of his never ending periods in custody.

"He is hopeful that with encouragement he might at long last be able to turn his life around."

Before sentence was passed, Mr Cunningham also asked Sheriff Murdoch Mactaggart to take into consideration the early timing of Fisher's guilty plea.

However, Sheriff Mactaggart took a very dim view on the matter.

He said: “This is an extremely serious assault and in particular I am concerned that you had your hand on someone’s throat, restricting her breathing and had your knee on someone’s neck, restricting her breathing.

“You are lucky that someone didn’t die. She is incredibly lucky that she came out of this alive.

“The sentence has to be one of custody, that is the only appropriate disposal.”

Fisher was then sentenced to spend a total of 30 months in prison, which was backdated to February 12, when he was first remanded.

A non-harassment order was also put in place between Fisher and the complainer for a period of five years.

Sheriff Mactaggart added: “That reflects the seriousness of this offence and the stance this court takes towards violence towards women.”